BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — A shooting that appears accidental in nature left one man with minor injuries Saturday.

Police say a man was shot after an intoxicated woman fired off a shotgun loaded with birdshot above the head of the victim who she thought was approaching her home.

Lt. Jarret LeClair said Nikeia J. Paige, 39, of 1217 Greene Street, was charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession following the incident.

He said Paige had been on high alert due to an unrelated incident with another male. He said Paige was intoxicated and had mistaken the victim for someone else.

When she saw the man approaching her home, she fired the weapon from the side door of her home as a warning.

He said the victim was known to her as he has been seen around the city rummaging through various properties, but that they did not have a personal relationship.

The victim was not facing Paige when he was struck by the birdshot. The shotgun was recovered following the incident after police executed a search warrant.

Paige was arraigned in City Court and was released on her own recognizance.

City police were assisted by the Sheriff’s Office, state police and state Environmental Conservation officers.

Despite rumors circulating on social media, the victim was not attempting to gain entry to the home and did not enter Paige’s property.

LeClair said he believes the incident is in part due to people being scared and on high alert as the city has seen an uptick of crimes, drug use and thefts.

“I think people are fed up. I think people are on high alert,” he said.

LeClair said the incident could have been a lot worse. He noted that the distance between the victim and the fact that the shotgun was loaded with birdshot is likely what kept the injuries from being more severe.

The incident is adding more tension to the city which is already reeling from the murder of a 19-year-old victim in August.

The reason for the uptick in tension and crime has prompted police to plan a community meeting Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall to address a rash of public safety issues impacting the city.

Topics officers are hoping to discuss include the homeless problem facing the city, an increase in thefts from buildings, cars and property, increases in drug problems and mental health issues as well as other problems community members might want to bring forward.

“We are hoping to speak to the community in order to help come up with solutions for these problems,” LeClair said.