Anthony Avojan

In the early morning hours of September 28, 2001, the quiet of a Niagara Falls neighborhood was shattered by violence. Inside a residence at 1814 Niagara Ave., Anthony Avojan, a male, was asleep in the living room, along with a married couple who were his friends and their three children. It was not unusual for Avojan to be at the home, as he often worked on cars with one of the residents. However, the house was also known in the area as a place where drugs were sold.

At approximately 3:35 a.m., a knock at the side door was quickly followed by the forceful kick of an intruder. A single suspect, armed with a shotgun, stepped into the dining room. As Avojan was waking and moving toward the French doors that separated the living and dining rooms, two shots were fired. One shot, believed to be accidental, struck the floor. The second was fired through the French doors, tragically ending Anthony Avojan's life.

In the immediate aftermath, a witness reported seeing a car speeding away from the scene, but little else. Law enforcement investigators were able to release a vague description of a possible suspect: a Black male wearing a short-sleeved white shirt, white sneakers, and a black bandana. Despite the efforts of detectives, the case quickly grew cold. The suddenness of the crime and its potential connection to drug activity may have discouraged individuals with information from coming forward. A year after the homicide, Avojan's family offered a reward for information, which generated a few tips but no solid leads to an arrest. To this day, the murder of Anthony Avojan remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made in connection with his death.