City Police Pursue Suspect Through Sunday Morning
Darkness In Lockport Town Trailer Park
Police Heroes Take AK-47 Fire Before Suspect Shot Down
Updated Info On Suspect & Associates
Two Lockport Policemen were shot, a bar patron shot, and several other injured during a weekend night of gun violence which began late Saturday night, 2/8, at the Niagara Hotel. The suspect, who ignited a night terror is dead. He has been identified as 26-year old Jason S. Kanalley who has given a variety of Lockport area addresses for his home over the past year. Kanalley is said to have a police record.
The violence began shortly before 11PM Saturday night when Mr. Kanalley turned irate over another man dating his ex-girl friend. Sources say Kanalley confronted 27-year old Jeffrey Erle of Elmwood Avenue at the Niagara Hotel then shot him outside before spraying the Niagara inside and out with multiple rounds from an AK-47 assault rifle.
Police were called just after 11PM and while Erle was taken to the hospital for emergency treatment, a search was begun for the suspect. Several other patrons were treated at Lockport Memorial Hospital for injuries from flying glass. Erle was later transferred to Erie County Emergency Medical Center (ECMC) where he was treated for his two gunshot wounds and released on Sunday.
Saturday
Night
Crime Scene
Sunday morning shortly after daybreak our Lockport Home Page
photographer saw this scene at Transit and Niagara Streets. The Niagara Hotel was
taking a beating with strong wind and snow.
Earlier, at 11PM Saturday night, reports say a man driving a 2-door white Pontiac Sunfire
with an AK-47 and about 200 rounds of ammo sprayed the hotel's main bar room.
One bar patron was shot and taken to the hospital. For the next six hours
police put out an area dragnet for the suspect.
A massive police effort began within minutes with extra officers called in. Within an hour police knew who they were looking for and where to look. Patrols were dispatched to a family residence off Wick Road north of the City while detectives worked the telephone interviewing Kanalley’s current girl friend and his estranged wife. They learned he had over 200 rounds of ammunition and three clips for his AK-47. Police alerts were sent out to the State Police and Niagara County Sheriff’s Department.
AK-47
Russian Assault Weapon
The basic AK-47 was the prized Russian military assault weapon for
many years. It is still prized today by crime organizations around the world.
It fires large caliber rounds from a clip and can saturate spray an area with lethal lead
in seconds. It is this kind of weapon that Jason Kanalley is said to have obtained
and used in his weekend Lockport rampage.
From 12AM Sunday morning through about 4AM a massive police operation continued in Lockport. From Police Headquarters on the telephone, to all available patrols out looking for the suspect in a white, 2-door, Pontiac Sunfire and interviewing friends and family of Kanalley. About 4AM Lockport Police Officer Michael Stover, in a city patrol car on Beattie Avenue, spotted the suspect vehicle which was outbound toward Dysinger Road. The patrol car radioed details as it began to follow the Sunfire into Lockport Town and police dispatchers coordinated bringing more patrol cars to close in on the Sunfire. Within a few minutes the Sunfire had entered the Village Trailer Park via a back entry off of Dysinger Road and started proceeding West toward South Transit. Police moved to seal off the large trailer park and called for urgent help from the Sheriff’s Department.
Crime
Scene
#2
Niagara County Sheriff's vehicles were all over the place at the
entry to Village Trailer Park late Sunday morning, 2/9 in Lockport Town.
The picture shows where two Lockport Policemen were shot in darkness by a suspect
firing an AK-47 - weapon. To the rear and to the left in the picture is an
area that leads to the rear of Hutchins Automotive. The camera is looking West from
inside the trailer park. Two Lockport City Policeman were shot in this area near 5AM
Sunday morning as they attempted to capture a gunman. It was also in this area that
the suspect was shot dead. Details concerning his dispatch are still subject to
investigation. The Lockport Home Page has been told that when police moved
in on him he was found dead, the possible victim of at least one round shot by Lockport
officers. Although urgent calls were made to nearby police agencies for help, before
most could arrive, the action was all over.
As Kanalley drove West through the darkness of the small little trailer park lanes, police were closing in. He sideswiped the vehicle with Captain Larry Eggert, Lockport Chief of Detectives. Then fired at Eggert hitting him in the left shoulder. The bullet moved through to Eggert’s right shoulder as he radioed for help and an ambulance. Shortley thereafter, Lockport Detective Scott Seekins, who had been in the same vehicle at Eggert, returned fire at Kanalley, hitting him once in the foot. The foot wound probably made Kanalley realize he'd have a hard time fleeing. He was seen in the darkness struggling to move the area on foot.
During the first round of gunfire Kanalley spotted the K-9 SUV of Officer Steve Ritchie and rammed it. The crash injured Ritchie’s leg and as the officer tried to get shelter Kanalley is reported to have opened fire on Ritchie’s vehicle with a volley of rounds from his AK-47. Even wearing his "bullet proof" vest, Ritchie was hit in the back and the bullet reportedly moved through him to his chest. He was reported hit again in the leg.
There must have been 15 Sheriff's vehicles out at the Village Trailer Park Sunday morning around 9AM near when this picture was taken (including the giant Sheriff's "Mobile Command Center." The picture above shows the front entry to the trailer park off South Transit Road being blocked off. The camera is looking south. Lockport Police had left the scene and were continuing their investigation back at Police Headquarters.
Again Eggert urgently radioed for both city ambulances and for help from State Police,
Sheriff, and Amherst Police. Lockport Officer Police Mike Stover moved in to remove the
wounded Eggert from the battleground. He brought Eggert out to Transit Road to be picked
up by ambulance. As more Lockport Police converged on the scene the gun-battle with
Kanalley shortly ended. One officer said he believed Kanalley, now on foot, had been hit
at least once because he was slowing down. Shortly thereafter the blaze of flame from the
AK-47 was out and Kanalley had been dispatched. On Monday, an autopsy report on
Kanalley stated that he had turned his gun on himself, and fired into his lower chin.
It is that shot that killed him officials documents indicate.
On Sunday authorities were reluctant to say exactly what finally killed Kanalley. He is
believed to have been hit at least once by police fire and one report was claiming he had
turned his gun on himself. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday and most are awaiting its
results before commenting on the exact cause of death for Kanalley.
Lockport Police officers Eggert and Richie were rushed to Lockport Memorial Hospital by city ambulance then transferred to ECMC. A report on Tuesday, 2/11, said Eggert who had been in "Fair" condition was released that day and Richie was still reported "Critical" in Intensive Care although he is said to be "improved." On Sunday, 2/16, the condition of Richie was upgraded to "serious."
Other Kanalley Crime Story Notes
Updates
Kanalley's ex-girl friend, Tanisha Sullivan, had reportedly warned 27-year old Jeffrey Erle about the man she had broke up with a few months prior. Sullivan and Kanalley had reportedly been associated for about two years. Still, Erle responded to a call to go to the Niagara Hotel Saturday night where he was confronted by Kanalley. Mr. Erle was reported shot as he was attempting to enter the Niagara Hotel after walking away from Kanalley. After shooting Erle, Kanalley reportedly sprayed the hotel with multiple rounds from his AK-47.
There is no public word on the identity of a woman in the car with Kanalley when he drove up to the Hotel Niagara. She is only described as a "brunette." There are sketchy reports that Kanalley had been married and fathered a son, now about 5, (Janson Kanalley Jr.) and believed living in Amherst. Reports to the Lockport Page say the ex-wife had been contacted in the early hours of the investigation.
The Buffalo News reports that Kanalley's former guidance counselor at Lockport High, Richard Scalzo, recalls the gunman as "the scariest kid I've ever seen." Scalzo recounts in Tuesday's newspaper edition a violent 1994 encounter he had with Kanalley breaking up a school fight. Scalzo said he was later attacked by Kanalley in the school hallways as Scalzo was trying to take him to the principal's office.
Kanalley's police record is said to include a yet-unresolved charge of cruelty to animals connected with his alleged brutalizing of a young dog in Newfane. The media reports an unspecified police action with Kanalley as the subject in the Town of Amherst.
Kanalley has had several addresses in the past few years. At one time he was reported living with his parents on Wicks Road north of Lockport City in the Town. Neighbors there are quoted as calling him "nuts" and recalled him abusing a dog and shooting firearms in the back yard. There is no public revelation yet as to what Kanalley did for a living but one relative indicated he thought the young man had managed to get on some kind of "government disability."
In Lockport there has been a huge outpouring of support and appreciation for the wounded officers and other members of the Lockport Police force. In Lockport Town, residents of the Village Trailer Park have expressed appreciation that the city police caught up with Kanalley, fearing he may have gone on a further rampage in the densely populated trailer park with his AK-47.
Prior to the call to the Niagara Hotel city police had been experiencing a busy night of Saturday night trouble calls. They had even been called several times into Lockport Town to respond to trouble calls that had been referred to them by the Sheriff's Department. Lockport Town does not have a police force but relies on the Sheriff's Department and State Police for protection. Lockport city police respond to calls in the Town almost daily without funding from the town when called by the Sheriff's Department.
The picture of the front window at the Niagara Hotel on North Transit Street Sunday morning shows four bullet holes that the Lockport Page has been told were produced by a Jason Kanalley spraying the area with a large caliber (AK-47) automatic weapon. Reports indicate more than 8 rounds found resting points in the hardware of the Niagara Hotel. At least one hit 27-year old Jeffrey Erle, the reported current boyfriend of Kanalley's ex-girlfriend.
Grand Street man charged with providing AK-47 used in police shootings. A federal grand jury has indicted a 22-year old Grand Street man, accusing him of buying an AK-47 and giving it to Jason Kanalley. Kanalley then reportedly used the weapon to go on a rampage back in February, including the shooting of two Lockport policemen. 22-year old Christopher C. Cheverie of 218 Grand Street was arrested this week. Authorities say Cheverie bought the gun for Kanalley who wasn't allowed to purchase or own a gun because of his past record. Cheverie has been jailed in lieu of $5000 bail. If convicted he could face up to ten years in prison. (6/19/03)
First report: Sunday, 2-9-03 8:30AM