Niagara Falls Police say a 16-year-old boy is dead after being shot Monday night at the Jordan Gardens Complex on Highland Avenue.
"But this shooting this is terrible," resident Erica Smith said.
She shared she has lived at this complex for 30 years and the area is no stranger to shootings.
"A bullet already came through my house before," Smith stated. "I just dove to protect myself. It was scary."
Police say around 8:30pm, they responded to Jordan Gardens for a report of shots fired. They say they found the teenager suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center where he later died.
Smith said she saw the whole thing.
"I was looking out my window and heard the kids fighting. I seen them all over there. As soon as i heard the shot I just ran out of my window," she shared. "Whoever was out there helping the boy was trying to resuscitate him and I just prayed for him."
Founder of the Stop the Violence Foundation Bishop Perry Davis says he is grieving and hates that this is a constant feeling in our community.
"We're losing too many of our children," he said. "The violence has to stop."
He wants to see more, he shared, opportunities for kids to give them a chance at a brighter future.
"I cant stress enough that we need to be more proactive. We cant wait until something happens or a child dies," Davis stated.
Niagara falls school Superintendent Mark Laurrie said the feeling right now is hopelessness and overwhelming grief.
"Sadness for the family sadness for the other students," Laurrie said.
Principals and school faculty met Tuesday morning to talk about what's next for the school district.
"To make sure have the appropriate resources like councilors available for staff or our students," he said. "We want to be in protective mode."
Niagara Falls Criminal Investigation Division Detectives are investigating this incident and are asking that anyone with information contact Detectives at (716) 286-4553 or the General Information Number at (716) 286-4711.
