NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WKBW) — The two teens arrested for the Lockport Halloween party shooting that killed 20-year-old Cheyenne Farewell and five others injured appeared virtually in court Monday for their preliminary hearing. The case has been turned over to a grand jury.
Judge Diane Vitello presided over the preceding in Niagara County Youth Part.
Both teens were accompanied virtually by a parent or legal guardian. The teens were arrested October 20th, charged with intentional homicide and criminal possession of a weapon.
The 16-year-old waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Two witnesses were called to the stand, both Lockport Police Detectives. One of the detectives discussed an alleged confession from the 17-year-old.
The detective said the 17-year-old admitted to shooting a gun into a door with the intention of shooting two specific individuals. The detective said the teen said he did not mean to shoot Farewell.
The defense questioned if this confession was obtained legally.
“Despite the legal arguments made by the defense in court today, we are comfortable that the proper legal safeguards were followed by the Lockport Police Department when interviewing the juveniles involved in this case. The admissibility of the defendant’s statements will be litigated at a later date. We are confident the protocols set forth in the Raise the Age legislation, particularly those involving parental notification, were followed despite the arguments raised by defense counsel and the questions posed to the witnesses in today’s hearing,” District Attorney Caroline Wojtaszek said in a statement.
The detective said there were about 100 people at the Halloween party.
