Dunkirk Police

investigate shooting

The Dunkirk Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred in the city on at about 6:50 p.m. Wednesday.

Officers were alerted to the incident on the 300 block of Washington Avenue and learned that one person was struck by gunfire. The injury at this time does not appear life-threatening. The victim was transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital by a private vehicle and later transferred to ECMC in Buffalo. Police say the incident was targeted at people who know each other.

New York State Police, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fredonia Police Department assisted the Dunkirk Police Department.

The Dunkirk Police Detective Bureau, the Crime Scene Unit, and the K-9 Unit also assisted.

The Dunkirk Police Department asks anyone who may have witnessed or has video of this incident to contact the department at 716-366-2266 or the confidential tip line at 716-363-0313.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY COURT

— Steven Gardner, 26, of Westfield was sentenced Wednesday to an indeterminate state prison term of 2 1/3 years to 7 years after being convicted of violating probation.

In January 2021, Gardner was charged with second-degree burglary, a class C violent felony, after breaking in to a house in the town of Westfield.

In January 2022, Gardner pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of third-degree burglaryand was sentenced to a five-year term of probation. In October 2022, the Chautauqua County Department of Probation filed a violation on Gardner following two new arrests; in April 2023 he was returned to probation after becoming compliant with the terms.

In March of this year, Gardner was in violation by the Department of Probation a second time for failing to comply with the terms of his probation. After a Violation of Probation hearing was held, Gardner’s probation was revoked and he was sentenced to state prison.

The District Attorney would like to thank the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s office for their work on the original arrest in January 2021 and the Probation Officers assigned to supervise Gardner. This case was prosecuted by ADA Andrew Molitor.