1 dead, 1 wounded in restaurant shooting; employee is suspect

[depakid]

Another workplace shooting....

One man is dead and another man wounded following a late morning shooting inside Merge restaurant on Delaware Avenue, authorities confirmed this afternoon. Police had a suspect in custody near the scene almost immediately. The alleged shooter and the two victims were employees of the restaurant.

An initial call reporting a double shooting came in around 11:41 a.m. Three ambulances, a fire truck and about a dozen police vehicles responded, blocking northbound traffic on Delaware between Virginia and Edward streets. An ambulance delivered one victim with non-life threatening injuries to Erie County Medical Center.

Later on, a man who appeared to be in his 20s was rolled out of the restaurant on a gurney and into an ambulance, as an emergency crew worked feverishly to save him. The man appeared to have a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to Buffalo General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim appeared to be a man in his 20s.

The victims weren't identified, but a statement posted this afternoon on the restaurant's Web site mentions "the Costner family."

That statement reads: "Our hearts are with the Costner family at this time. We are shocked and saddened by the tragedy that occurred today. It was an isolated incident and a random act of violence. We are accepting charitable donations of any size for the Costner family. Thank you."

A police officer tried to block television and print cameras from taking pictures, even though the cameras were well beyond police tape set up at the scene. Merge, which opened in 2009, specializes in vegetarian cuisine and features original artwork.

The restaurant was scheduled to feature a "Drinks & Drawing/Pints & Painting" afternoon beginning at noon today. The event encouraged artists of any skill level to "come hang out, have a hot cup of tea or a beer and paint/draw."

More: http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/924729.html?imw=Y