A woman was found dead with a gunshot wound to her chest on the 200 block of Alabama Street in Buffalo on Tuesday morning, after officers responded to a rescue call for a woman who was not breathing. Buffalo police said they arrived at the scene just after 9 a.m. Homicide detectives have since taken over the investigation into her death.
According to WKBW, officers were initially called to the scene for a report of a woman not breathing before discovering the gunshot wound. The outlet reports that homicide detectives are now investigating the case, though police have not released further details about what led up to the shooting.
A separate account from WIVB places the rescue call at around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, close to the timeframe police described. Both accounts agree officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Alabama Street before finding the woman dead.
Investigators Seek Tips From the Public
Police have not named the victim or provided additional details about her identity, and no information has been released about a possible suspect or motive. As the investigation continues, Buffalo police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
Residents with information can call or text 911, or reach out through the Buffalo police confidential tip line at 716-847-2255, per the department's request relayed by WKBW. Homicide detectives are continuing to work the case as the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear.
Citywide Numbers Show a Different Trend
The fatal shooting comes as city officials have pointed to a broader decline in gun violence across Buffalo this year. The city has reported 71 shooting incidents in 2026, a figure officials describe as 46 percent fewer than the city's previous 10-year average for the same date, according to the City of Buffalo. The city also reported 14 homicides so far this year, which it described as the lowest total in recent memory at this point in the year.
State officials have highlighted a similar pattern. Across 28 police departments participating in the GIVE initiative, the number of individuals shot declined 66 percent, from 262 to 88, while the number of individuals killed by gun violence dropped 74 percent, from 28 to 11, in the first three months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2021, according to a statement from the Governor of New York. Those figures describe broader regional trends and do not establish any connection to Tuesday's shooting on Alabama Street.
For now, the investigation into the woman's death remains active, with homicide detectives working to piece together what happened. Police have not indicated when they expect to release further information.
