Niagara Falls Man Shot by Police Five Years After Shooting Girlfriend at Local Restaurant

A Niagara Falls man with a violent criminal past has been arrested and charged in connection with an officer-involved shooting that occurred in April on the 1100 block of Connecting Road.

Anthony Ciccarelli, 24, was taken into custody around 4pm Wednesday by Niagara Falls Police, assisted by several local law enforcement agencies. He now faces first-degree reckless endangerment and multiple vehicle and traffic law violations after leading officers on a dangerous high-speed chase through city streets and attempting to run them down with his vehicle.

Police say the incident began on April 17th around 6:30pm when patrol officers observed suspected narcotics activity involving Ciccarelli near 18th Street and Pine Avenue. When they attempted to stop his Nissan Murano, Ciccarelli refused to pull over, prompting a pursuit through Niagara Falls and into the Town of Niagara.

The chase ended on Connecting Road when Ciccarelli attempted a U-turn and allegedly drove directly at the officers, ignoring commands to stop. Officers radioed in that the suspect had tried to strike them with his vehicle, followed by the call: “Shots fired!”

Ciccarelli was struck by gunfire during the confrontation and transported to Erie County Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. No officers were hurt. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave while the department’s Office of Professional Standards and Criminal Investigation Division continue to investigate.

Ciccarelli appeared in Niagara Falls City Court on Thursday where he pleaded not guilty and was remanded without bail pending further proceedings scheduled for Tuesday.

This is not Ciccarelli’s first encounter with law enforcement or gun violence.

In March 2020, he accidentally shot his girlfriend in the leg at Texas de Brazil at the Walden Galleria Mall, leading to a criminal case that made headlines across Western New York. He later pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and was sentenced to one year in jail.

Just months later, in October 2020, Ciccarelli was arrested again after Cheektowaga Police found him with cocaine, marijuana, cash, and a scale during a traffic stop. He admitted to drug use and was ultimately convicted of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Niagara Falls Man Shot by Police Five Years After Shooting Girlfriend at Local Restaurant