Ellicott police

FALCONER — An 18-year-old town of Ellicott man told police he shot his step-father following an altercation that occurred inside their Willard Street Extension home late Friday.

Details of a reported struggle between Tucker Richard and 57-year-old Scott Blake that preceded the shooting were noted Tuesday by Det. Kevin Pierce of the Ellicott Police Department during a preliminary hearing.

Richard has been jailed on a second-degree murder charge in connection with Blake’s death. The 18-year-old had been remanded without bail during centralized arraignment proceedings at the Chautauqua County Jail, and he was in Ellicott Town Court on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing before Town Justice Marilyn Gerace.

Only two witnesses took the stand, Lt. Sam Piazza of the Jamestown Police Department followed by Pierce.

Piazza said he responded Friday at about 10 p.m. to 2256 Willard St. Ext. for a reported gunshot victim. As the first officer to arrive, he said he found Richard on the front porch with a phone in his hand and, upon looking inside, discovered Blake on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head.

No one else was home at the time of the shooting; the residence is located within the town of Ellicott, though due to its location and the nature of the call, officers from both Ellicott and Jamestown responded.

Piazza was questioned Tuesday by Jason Schmidt, Chautauqua County district attorney. The police lieutenant said it was obvious that Blake had suffered fatal injuries, and he noted observing a gun near his leg.

Schmidt inquired wether Richard had made any remarks during their encounter. Piazza responded that Richard said his step-father had become irate and woke him up from a nap prior to the shooting.

Piazza detained Richard and later cleared the residence with other officers.

Ned Barone, Chautauqua County public defender, asked Piazza if Richard was cooperative at the scene, to which he said yes.

Barone asked if Richard attempted to obstruct the investigation in any way Friday night. Piazza responded, “Not at all.”

The public defender also questioned whether Richard was ever combative, to which Piazza again responded, “Not at all.”

Piazza confirmed it was Richard who called 911 after the shooting and that Richard was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher when he arrived at the scene.

Pierce testified that he was familiar with both Richard and Blake due to having been at the Willard Street Extension home “many times” in the past. The detective said he was at the residence last October when Richard was charged with a crime, though the nature of that case or what the charge entailed was not disclosed at Tuesday’s hearing.

During an interview at the Ellicott Police Department, Pierce said Richard told him that Blake had kicked-in the door to his bedroom hours earlier and, during an altercation over a messy bedroom, struck him with an unloaded sawed-off shotgun. The gun reportedly fell apart afterward, at which time Blake reportedly went downstairs and was followed by Richard.

The 18-year-old told Pierce that his step-father retrieved another shotgun. While wrestling the gun away, Richard first claimed that it went off, striking Blake in the head. However, Pierce said Richard later changed his account, stating that he grabbed the weapon from Blake and, fearing that his step-father would get another gun, “pulled the trigger on instinct.”

Pierce said his interview with Richard lasted about an hour.

James Williams, second assistant public defender, also was present during the preliminary hearing.

Gerace ruled there was enough probable cause and held the case for Chautauqua County Court. She remanded Richard back to the custody of the Sheriff’s Office and ordered Richard held without bail.

More than a dozen people, many believed to be family members, attended the preliminary hearing. Richard was dressed in black and white prison garb. He did not speak out loud during the hourlong hearing.