Hours-long standoff ends tragically

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) - An hours-long standoff has come to a tragic end for a Niagara County family. Morris Tucker was found dead inside his home, his wife is at ECMC with gunshot wounds to her face, and their three-year-old girl is safe.

The standoff situation came to an end Wednesday around 1:15 p.m. on Campbell Boulevard, between Saunders Settlement and Lockport Roads. Tucker who was believed to have a weapon was inside the home for hours, with the three-year-old child.

  PHOTO GALLERY | See photos from the scene of the standoff Wednesday. You can see authorities at the home, and the surrounding area, in this photo gallery.

Early Wednesday, the suspect's wife, 40-year-old LeAnne Tucker was found on Campbell Boulevard after being shot in the face. She was taken to ECMC, where she is in critical condition.

Hours into the standoff, the SWAT team used a PA system to call the three-year-old child's name. They asked her to come to the door. Police say she came to the door, and then ran outside. The child was unharmed and said to be doing great.

The police entry team found Tucker's deceased body inside of house, with an assault rifle was found near his body.

Authorities tried for hours Wednesday morning and afternoon to contact Tucker inside the home. They had secured the inner and outer perimeters, and had evacuated the homes in the surrounding area.

News 4's George Richert did some more digging on this case and found out interesting information. It turns out, Morris Tucker was involved with another shooting 14 years ago.

When he was 30-years-old, Tucker accepted a plea deal after admitting to shooting then 32-year-old Jenipher Behm of Lockport in the head.

Behm was a mother of two, but Tucker said the gun went off accidentally. The only witness to the shooting was Tucker's best friend who insisted it was an accidental shooting.

At the time of the shooting in 1998, he was a second time violent felony offender.

Several police forces responded to the domestic situation in Niagara County Wednesday. Several police agencies were on the scene, but the Niagara County Sheriff's Office was the lead agency. An investigation is underway.