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State Police Investigating Fatal Accidental Shooting

STEAMBURG — The New York State Police is investigating the death of a 22-year-old woman as the result of an accidental shooting late last week.

Cattaraugus County 911 received word of a gunshot victim around 3:15 p.m. Friday.

First responders were notified that the female victim had been struck by the accidental discharge of a firearm. The woman was transported by private vehicle to a gas station and smoke shop on West Perimeter Road near Interstate 86 in Steamburg, located within the town of Coldspring.

Joseph Smith, a senior investigator with the New York State Police barracks in Jamestown, said the victim was pronounced dead before she could be transported to the hospital.

“I can confirm we are investigating a reported accidental gunshot that led to the fatality of the victim,” Smith told The Post-Journal on Thursday.

No details regarding the shooting have been released by police nearly a week after the shooting. Smith confirmed the victim was shot at a nearby marijuana dispensary and then transported by vehicle to meet with emergency providers.

In addition to state troopers, Randolph EMS, Cattaraugus County sheriff’s deputies and marshals with the Seneca Nation of Indians also responded Friday afternoon. Smith said NYSP was leading the investigation into the woman’s death and that the investigation as of Thursday remained open and active.

Smith could not provide further details, including the victim’s name or what led up to the accidental shooting.

However, Howard T. VanRensselaer, senior county coroner, said he pronounced Leigh R. Fisher, 22, dead at 4:05 p.m. Friday at the gas station and smoke shop after suffering a gunshot wound. He also noted that the shooting occurred elsewhere.

According to her obituary, Fisher was a Salamanca resident and enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians. She was an employee of Stone Giant Dispensary of Steamburg.

Funeral services for Fisher were held Wednesday.

In a message posted to Facebook this week, Stone Giant said it was closed “due to a death” and would tentatively reopen July18.

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