Pregnant woman, 17, escapes attempt to kill her

By Vanessa Thomas NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Updated: 04/01/08 6:37 AM

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A pregnant 17-year-old girl escaped flying bullets Sunday on the city’s East Side after the father of her unborn child and his friend reportedly attempted to kill her as a way to advance in a gang, The Buffalo News has learned.

The incident happened at about 4 p.m. at Koons Avenue and Genesee Street. The girl was not struck by the shots.

Two males are facing attempted-murder charges in the shooting — William Stewart, 17, of Nevada Avenue, who is believed to be the father of the unborn child, and his friend, Terrance J. Martinelli, 20, of Minnesota Avenue.

Police believe that Martinelli was the triggerman and that Stewart ordered the execution-style shooting as way to advance in a gang.

Sources say Stewart also did not want the girl to give birth to their child, so he plotted with his friend to kill her.

Erie County District Attorney Frank J. Clark declined to comment on the motive for the shooting but said the two are not facing any charges connected to the fetus.

“The law states that in order for the fetus to be considered a person, it had to be beyond 24 weeks, so the charges are only with regard to the [girl] — not the unborn fetus,” Clark explained Monday.

This incident marks the second case in less than a week that a pregnant woman came under attack in the city.

Wednesday, a Hickory Street woman was beaten by a man who told her that he was going to “make her lose that baby.” He also informed her that “her getting pregnant was the worst thing that could happen to him.”

The man repeatedly punched the woman in the head, face and body, causing her to suffer cuts, swelling and bruising to her ear, face and throat. The condition of her unborn child was not released.

“Sadly, pregnant women are vulnerable,” Clark said of the two recent cases. “The fact of her being pregnant is often a factor in why she’s attacked. Sometimes it isn’t, but often it is.”

Stewart and Martinelli were being held Monday in the Erie County Holding Center without bail. They are scheduled to appear at 2 p.m. Friday for a felony hearing.

Ferry-Fillmore District police officers allege that Stewart and Martinelli plotted together to kill the girl.

She was walking Sunday afternoon when Martinelli approached her and asked her to borrow her cell phone.

Police said Martinelli fired several shots at her with a silver .45-caliber handgun. All the shots missed, and she was able to run away.

Sources said the two initially planned to stab the girl but then decided to shoot her instead. The sources also said they shot at her as a way to advance in a gang.

Officers Kristin Langdon and Peter Kocol arrested Stewart at about 12:15 a.m. Monday, while Martinelli was arrested at about 10:45 p.m. Sunday.

vthomas@buffnews.com