Albany teacher shot, killed near Buffalo
UPDATED March 29, 4 p.m.
Funeral services for a popular elementary school teacher killed in a shooting in suburban Buffalo early Sunday will be held in his hometown of Old Forge, a spokesperson for the City School District of Albany said Monday.
According to Ron Lesko, the wake will be Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at Dimbleby’s Funeral Home, 128 Fern Ave. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Niccoll’s Memorial Church, 228 Crosby Blvd.
The family also will plan a memorial service in Albany; those plans are not yet set.
31-year-old David W. Park was in his fourth year as a fifth-grade teacher at Arbor Hill Elementary School. Lesko said Park was well-liked by his students, coached the school’s basketball team and was a volunteer Little League baseball coach. According to the release, Park's peers voted for him to receive the school's annual Founders Day award in 2009 for excellence in the classroom and commitment to his profession and his students.
Students and teachers at Arbor Hill gathered Monday to mourn the loss of a friend and mentor. School Principal Rosalind Gaines-Harrell says students started the day hearing the news in the school's gymnasium. Teachers and counselors are on hand to to help grieving students. Gaines-Harrell says the events surrounding Park's death are being described to students as a tragic accident.
The Amherst Police Department said the shooting happened in a home on Millbrook Court about 1 a.m. Police say officers had gone to that address to answer a call about an unknown intruder and found Park, who had been shot but was still alive.
Police say he died later at Millard Suburban Hospital. The homeowner was questioned at the police station. As of last night, no charges had been filed.
The Buffalo News quoted the assistant police chief as saying the reason Park was in the house is a mystery.
In a prepared statement, Superintendent Raymond Colucciello said the district is deeply saddened. “David Park was a loved and respected teacher with a strong commitment to his students and their families. Our hearts go out to his family at this difficult time, especially to his sister, who also is a member of our school community.”
Park’s sister, Stephanie Garcia-Galagarza, is a Spanish teacher at Albany High School, where Park had worked as a substitute teacher.
“David will be sadly missed by his family, friends, co-workers, students and players,” said Arbor Hill Elementary Principal Rosalind Gaines-Harrell.
