http://www.wivb.com/Global/story.asp?S=5291307
Bold Shooting in Broad Daylight in Schiller Park Area
(Buffalo, NY, August 16, 2006) - - Gunfire targeted a man in broad daylight Wednesday on a busy street corner in Buffalo's Schiller Park area. News 4's Jodi Hovenden reports the gunman is still at large, and the victim is in critical condition at ECMC.
Buffalo police say 22-year-old Leon East of Floss Street was ambushed as he and a friend left the Exxon Express store on Freund and Genesee Streets Wednesday morning, a bold shooting in broad daylight near a busy street corner.
One witness said, "At first, I thought firecrackers. I'm not use to people getting shot."
Lt. Kenneth Bienko of the Buffalo homicide squad said, "It's very concerning. Shot in broad daylight, 10:30 in the morning."
Detectives say the gunman fired five or six shots from a handgun. One of them struck Leon East in the head.
Bienko said, "We heard somebody came from up the street, don't know where he came from."
Detectives canvassed the neighborhood and searched for bullet holes in nearby businesses.
No one else was hurt, but with a $7 million reconstruction project underway and residents going about their day, Lovejoy District Buffalo Common Councilmember Richard Fontana says others could have been injured.
Fontana said, "We think maybe they knew each other. This was an ambush-type situation, but still, a little kid could have got shot. Anybody could have got shot. We have Save-a-Lot across the street, people doing their shopping."
For residents who live in the neighborhood, shootings like this one are happening all too often.
One man, who didn't want to go on camera, is concerned one of his three children could get caught in the crossfire.
He said, "This is ridiculous. This stuff needs to stop going on, because I can't deal with this."
Councilmember Fontana is offering a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Anyone with information should call the homicide tip line at 847-2255.
Leon East is listed in critical condition at ECMC.
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