Niagara Falls woman sentenced for driving vehicle into group of people

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Niagara Falls woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with a 2023 incident that left four people injured, according to the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office.

Shawnquilla Armstrong, 32, intentionally drove her Chevrolet SUV into a group of people on Sept. 17 on Pierce Avenue in Niagara Falls, according to police. Four people were injured, two of which were transported to ECMC for serious but non-life-threatening leg injuries.

“The tire of her SUV came within inches of running over one individual’s head,” said Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman in a news release. “It was by sheer luck that nobody was killed.”

Armstrong was convicted on two counts of first-degree attempted assault. She was sentenced to serve five years for each count.

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.