Depew, N.Y. (WBEN) – Police in the Village of Depew responded to reports of a woman shot in the parking lot of Dollar Tree on Broadway in the D&L Plaza on Wednesday.
According to Chief of Police in Depew, Jim McNamara, officers were dispatched at around 6:15 p.m. to the plaza, where they found the 20-year-old victim, who had been shot multiple times.
"They immediately started life-saving measures, and they continued until the Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corporation arrived, at which point they took over life-saving measures and they transported the victim to ECMC, where she is currently in stable condition," said McNamara during a press briefing on Thursday.
Chief McNamara says evidence at the scene led officers to an address on Main Street in the Village of Depew, where they contacted the Lancaster Special Weapons and Tactics Unit to assist out of abundance of caution.
"Through careful negotiations for [around three] hours, they ultimately had the subject exit the apartment and took him into custody safely," McNamara detailed. "Then transferred his custody to the Depew Police Department, at which point we had him arraigned in the Town of Cheektowaga by Judge [David] Stevens, where he was remanded to a juvenile detention facility."
The 17-year-old is charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, and petit larceny.
"Obviously we had a gun in the hands of a 17-year-old, who does not have a permit for this weapon. It's very serious, and someone almost lost their life," McNamara added.
Prior to police detaining the suspect, McNamara says there were two young children who were also in the apartment at the time. Both were able to escape unharmed and unimpeded.
While no weapons were located in the apartment, McNamara says his evidence team was out Thursday to canvas the area, and located the handgun is believed to have been involved in the incident.
McNamara says the shooting was an isolated incident, and there continues to be no threat to the public.
"This area is a great area. I happen to frequent that plaza, myself, daily for lunch. So no, there should not be those type of concerns," he said. "I can tell you that our community rose to the challenge at this time, and assisted us immensely in having a successful resolution to this."
Anyone with more information into the incident is asked to call the Depew Police Department at (716)-683-1123.