Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The shooting death of Cheyenne Farewell in Lockport last weekend has reminded prosecutors about the rise in gun violence and the continuing battle against illegal guns coming into WNY.
"In my first three years as district attorney, there were four homicides. Now, that total is 16," says Niagara County District Attorney Caroline Wojtaszek. "There are illegal guns that come through other states and are brought here by individuals who sell them on the streets." Wojtaszek says this has been the focus of law enforcement efforts, with concerted efforts to stop illegal guns from coming into New York.
Wojtaszek says there's been a rise in gun possession arrests and non-fatal shootings this year.
US Attorney JP Kennedy says one of thing he's done is increase federal gun prosecutions by 50 percent. "We've prosecuted more guns this year than we have in more than a decade. Charging those individuals with federal gun crimes has had a strong effect," says Kennedy. "We've seen in the state court system some difficulty for DAs to keep some people off the street because of bail reform. So I team up with our partners in law enforcement and use the full force and authority of the federal government to file charges."
Kennedy notes illegal guns have been coming in from states like Ohio and Georgia with less restrictive gun laws. He adds "people have been making straw purchases to get guns and bring them into this community to commit many of the crimes we see."
Erie County DA John Flynn says in his time as DA, it's rare to see a legally owned weapon used in a crime. "For every shooting that occurs in Buffalo and Erie County, well over 90 percent of the time, there is an illegal weapon used," says Flynn. "Very few times do I see an individual who is charged with murder, assault or attempted murder where they have a legal gun."
