On Saturday, February 14, 2026 while at home with his family, off-duty Buffalo police school resource officer Lance Woods allegedly shot and killed his wife, Alexis Skoczylas. Woods, 53, of Lewiston, was arrested and arraigned on the charge of Murder in the Second Degree in connection with the murder of his wife.

The Buffalo Police Department has suspended a captain who spoke with Officer Lance Woods at a station house hours before he was charged in the shooting death of his wife in the Niagara County town of Sanborn. Buffalo police and city officials confirmed the captain has been suspended with pay pending an internal review of her actions when she had an in-person “discussion” with Woods at the D-District station house on Hertel Avenue.

Lewiston police officers performed a welfare check for Alexis Skoczylas at the home just after 5 p.m. Saturday, the 14th but apparently didn’t make contact with anyone at that time.

A timeline of events surrounding Skoczylas’s death released by the police indicates that the police captain who has been suspended spoke with Woods in person at the D-District station at 7:52 p.m. Saturday, more than three hours after city police were first contacted by Skoczylas’ mother, who asked if someone could put her in touch with Woods because she did not have a phone number for him.

According to the timeline, the captain contacted Lewiston police at that time while Woods was “with him in her presence,” confirming he had his two children with him.

The timeline indicates that Woods left the station house just after shift change at 8:05 p.m. and the police captain notified E-District that “he arrived with kids and that they are all leaving the D-District station house.”

Shortly after midnight Sunday, Lewiston police returned to the Sanborn home and found Skoczylas’ body. Buffalo police were then notified that she was considered a homicide victim and that Woods was considered a person of interest.

Woods was detained by Amherst and Cheektowaga police roughly three hours later, at around 3 a.m.

The timeline indicates that the police captain who interacted with Woods a day earlier was “relieved for duty for the day at 3 a.m. on Sunday, about five hours before she was officially suspended with pay pending an investigation by the department’s internal affairs division.

Woods has been suspended without pay.

The shooting incident is being investigated by the New York State Attorney General’s Office.

Buffalo police officers responded to an “unknown trouble” call around 2 a.m. on Donovan Drive on the East Side of Buffalo.

In a bystander video, concerned residents can be heard shouting at responding officers saying multiple times not to shoot the woman, and reminding them that they have tasers and pepper spray. An officer can then be seen stepping forward and firing his gun, hitting a woman who then falls to the ground.

According to police, officers allegedly encountered the woman with a knife that she wouldn't drop. Police reported that, one officer allegedly pepper sprayed the woman, she then allegedly stabbed a man in the head, and another officer then allegedly shot her in the shoulder.

The man and the woman were taken to the Erie County Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The officers who pepper sprayed and shot the woman have been placed on PAID administrative leave.

At approximately 12:45 p.m. on August 13th, 2025 three Cheektowaga Police Department(CPD) officers were allegedly attempting to arrest Hugh Davis Jr, a 60-year-old Black man who was a veteran with mental health issues, when an officer shot and killed him. CPD officers claim they were at Mr. Davis's apartment in North Buffalo to arrest him for an alleged assault that occurred in Cheektowaga.

In body cam footage, officers can been seen forcefully knocking on the door for several minutes claiming they had some property of Mr. Davis's that they wanted to return. In released footage, officers did not announce that their purpose as being the execution of an arrest warrant, which is required under CPL § 120.80(4).

The officers continued to knock on the door without getting an answer, and the door was getting progressively damaged. At one point one officer stuck her foot in a crack in a central panel of the door while another officer intentionally punched in the central panel. It fell into the apartment, and appeared to fall onto Mr Davis. Officers had no legal basis to force entry.

One of the officers announces, "Cheektowaga Police," as he removed the panel. Mr Davis can be heard saying, "who is at my door," as he lunged through the door, allegedly holding a knife in his hand. One of the officers then shot and killed Mr. Davis.

Hugh Davis Jr was pronounced dead at the scene.

The police officers recklessly created the situation leading to deadly force. Forcing entry under false pretenses and breaking the door escalated the encounter.

The Buffalo Police Department is investigating the shooting, as is the New York State Attorney General's Office. Under state law, they are called in when a civilian dies in an encounter with police.

A total of four Cheektowaga officers are under paid administrative leave, which is department policy for police shootings. An internal affairs investigation is also concurrently underway.

On or about August 11th, two Buffalo police officers violently beat a handcuffed homeless man outside the Vintage Room on Chippewa. The beating was captured on a 7sec video. The man was unable to resist arrest as at least one of his hands was handcuffed and his pants were around his ankles.

A Buffalo police officer shot and killed a dog during his walking detail on Saturday, June 28. The incident occurred when Officer Miller attempted to deliver a memo to a home on Newburgh Avenue near Lang Avenue.

According to a police report, two large dogs allegedly broke through a fence and charged at the officer. The dogs allegedly followed him onto the porch, where he discharged his weapon “to protect himself.” One of the dogs, named Apollo, was killed in the shooting; the other ran back into the yard.

The son of the dogs’ owner said that his father wanted the dogs to stay outside to enjoy the weather. He described the incident as follows: “Officer Miller chose to knock on the side door, where the dogs were, instead of the front door. The dogs pushed the fence open and got out. Miller ran up on our porch and shot Apollo at the bottom of our steps.”

Buffalo police probationary officer Dante LaMarti was off-duty and drinking when he shot a 22-year-old woman in the leg. LaMarti and the injured woman were at the home of Lancaster police officer John LaPiana when the shooting took place.

Outcome

The Buffalo police department has said that Internal Affairs is involved so that the department can investigate itself, while officer LaMarti is on PAID leave. LaMarti is refusing interviews with police and prosecutors.

The Lancaster police officer was originally placed on PAID administrative leave and was then terminated. The State Division of Criminal Justice Services confirmed Officer John Lapiana was removed for cause on July 11. Lapiana's removal means he's no longer eligible to serve as a police officer anywhere in New York State.

On the afternoon of Sunday May 25th, 2025 a Buffalo police patrol vehicle followed an ATV through Waterfront/Emerson Young Park in violation of the Buffalo police pursuit policy. The officer hit the driver of the ATV, knocking them off the vehicle.

Outcome

The Buffalo police department is protecting the identity of who was operating the vehicle that hit the ATV. An internal affairs investigation is now underway, so that the department can investigate itself.

Instead of disciplining the Buffalo police for hurting a Buffalo resident and violating their own written policy, city leaders have vowed to renew their focus on ways to deter ATV activity in the city. Instead of investing in street design or a race track so ATV's can be used safely, the city has passed a resolution criminalizing the sale of ATV's in the city.

On the morning of Saturday, February 15, 2025, Buffalo police tasered, beat and arrested Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a Burmese refugee who was nearly blind and spoke very little English. Nearly a year later, Shah Alam and was found dead after being turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol following his release from the Erie County Holding Center.

Original Arrest

Shah Alam, his wife and two sons arrived in Buffalo as refugees escaping a genocide just weeks prior to his original arrest in December 2024 and were in the country legally.

Cooped up due to the cold, Shah Alam went out for a walk when a sunny day arrived. In need of a mobility assistance device, Shah Alam went to a store near his home and purchased a curtain rod. Shah Alam headed home but got lost. Shortly before 10:30 AM, he wandered into the backyard of Tracy Chicone on the 500 block of Tonawanda Street in the Riverside neighborhood.

Chicone called the police and reported that Shah Alam had opened her back gate, let her dog out and damaged her shed door with the curtain rod he just purchased. Upon arrival, police alleged Shah Alam was “swinging at them in a menacing manner.” No effort was made to provide an interpreter, identify what language Shah Alam spoke, or if he needed accommodations.

Body camera footage shows a Buffalo police officer arriving at the Chicone’s home, walking down a sidewalk along the side of the house and entering a gate into the backyard. The officers immediately begin escalating the situation, shouting at Shah Alam to drop his curtain rod.

“Put it down!” the officer is heard shouting. “You’re going to get Tased! Put it in the snow!”

Shah Alam can be heard saying “okay” and lets one end of the rods drop onto the ground. He holds his free hand out in what appears to be an attempt to calm the officer.

Officers point their Tasers at Shah Alam, and fire. Shah Alam then raises one rod as if to defend himself. At that point, the officers tackle and attempt to handcuff Shah Alam.

“Get on the fucking ground,” one of the officers shouts repeatedly.

Once on the ground, one officer calls Shah Alam a “fucking asshole” and punches him at least 10 times. The police officers allege that Shah Alam bit them, causing minor injuries.

In the process of getting beat and having pink handcuffs put on, Shah Alam appears to say “I can’t breathe” in English. Shah Alam is also heard speaking in Rohingya and Malay. He asks for God’s help and tries to explain to the uncomprehending officers that he lives nearby and was going to the store. He pleads with the officers not to throw away his phone.

In the aftermath, one officer, speaking to others who had arrived on scene, can be heard saying, “He’s gonna be injured. I don’t know how bad. He got hit by all four [Tasers] and still came at us with the fucking poles. He almost got shot.”

A Buffalo police officer Darcie Brown is later heard saying, “I almost had to pull my gun out.”

Prosecution, Detention, and Release

Shah Alam was eventually charged with assault, trespass and possession of a weapon – the curtain rods. Attorneys said ICE had placed an immigration detainer on him once he was booked into the Erie County Holding Center.

It was four months before District Attorney Michael Keane’s office issued an indictment via Grand Jury on the charges, according to a statement from Keane’s office. Bail was originally set at $25,000 and was then lowered to $5,000 in May 2025. Fearing that ICE would take custody and transfer him out of state if they bailed him out, Shah Alam’s family opted to keep him in the jail where they could visit him.

After months of hearings, the case was nearing trial. On February 9, Keane’s office agreed to offer Shah Alam a plea deal.

Keane claimed his, “decision was the result of a comprehensive evaluation of his conduct, criminal history, acceptance of responsibility, medical condition, time served in pre-trial custody, and the proposed resolution.” He also claimed in a statement that he, “also considered the significant collateral consequences that would result from a felony conviction — including mandatory deportation.”

Shah Alam pled guilty to two misdemeanors and was scheduled to be sentenced in March. The district attorney said the reduced plea in Shah Alam’s case was “in the interest of justice.”

On Thursday, February 19th, 2026, bond was posted for Shah Alam, a spokesman for the Erie County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. His wife, and two of his sons who also have refugee status in the US, waited outside the Erie County Holding Center to pick him upon his release. “We were ready with food, clothing, everything,” his wife said. “We thought he would be able to break fast with us. He was so close, so close to my hand.” But the sheriff’s office instead released Shah Alam into the custody of Border Patrol at 4:39 PM.

Border Patrol and Missing Person's Case

Border Patrol realized that Shah Alam was not deportable. Around 8:20 PM, after being in the custody of Border Patrol for nearly four hours, they drove him to a Tim Hortons 5 miles away from his home. The coffe shop has a 24/7 drive through, but the indoor cafe had been closed for more than an hour. Border Patrol released Shah Alam wearing the clothes he wore when he was beaten nearly year earlier and shoes given to people incarcerated in the Erie County Holding Center that are not weather appropriate. Border Patrol left him in an unfamiliar environment, on a Buffalo night when temperatures fell below freezing, without notifying his family or lawyers.

Shah Alam's lawyer spent all day Friday, February 20th attempting to locate his client to get him released believing he was transferred to the custody of federal immigration detention facility in Batavia. Agents at the detention center said he never arrived. Family and community then spent the rest of Friday, Saturday, into Sunday searching everywhere they could think of for their loved one to no avail. Shah Alam's lawyer filed a missing persons report on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 2:30 PM. He didn't find out until Monday afternoon, February 23rd, 2026 that Border Patrol had left Shah Alam at the Tim Hortons parking lot.

Detective Richard Hy, who is well known for having an atrocious record of misconduct both on duty and off duty, was assigned to Shah Alam's missing person's case. Hy alleged that he saw the ICE detainer, assumed Shah Alam was in federal custody and closed the case on Monday, February 23rd at 12:29 PM. Three and a half hours later, at 4:05 PM, Hy re-opened the case, after receiving subsequent information the Shah Alam was not in the custody of ICE.

Tuesday, February 24th, 2026 at 7:45 AM, Hy issued a Be On the Look Out(BOLO) notice and a social media post with Shah Alam's missing person information. The same day, Shah Alam's lifeless body was found.

Shah Alam’s body was found on Perry Street, near KeyBank Center, home to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League, which is several miles away from where Border Patrol left him. A passerby called 911 to report an unresponsive man wearing a dark parka and khaki pants who appeared not to be breathing, with his hands described as gray in color. The women informed responding officers that she observed the man moving at approximately 5:30 PM. When she passed by the location again at approximately 8:30 PM, she observed that he was no longer moving, at which time she contacted 911. Buffalo Fire Department personnel initiated chest compressions, and Buffalo Police officers administered Narcan. AMR responded to the scene and subsequently pronounced the Shah Alam deceased.

Outcomes and Investigations

The county medical examiner is investigating the cause of death, health officials said. The Buffalo Police Department told reporters that the medical examiner had concluded that the death was “health related” and ruled out exposure or homicide, but the Erie County Department of Health later disputed that account, saying no determination had been made. “We have not provided that information to anyone,” the county health office said in a statement, and the investigation remains underway.

Buffalo Police said the detective Hy who made the error on Alam’s missing persons case that led to the case being closed for a few hours will not face disciplinary action.

This incident has resulted in both national and international media attention, local and national condemnation by community and elected officials, and public outcry of the systemic failures and violence that Shah Alam faced. Elected officials have, for the most part, called for investigations into the actions of federal agencies involved and have failed to highlight the complicity of the Buffalo Police, the Erie County District Attorney, and the Erie County Sheriff's Office played in the death of Shah Alam.

Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan released the following statement:

“A vulnerable man — nearly blind and unable to speak English — was left alone on a cold winter night with no known attempt to leave him in a safe, secure location. That decision from U.S. Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane. U.S. Customs and Border Protection must answer for how and why this happened. Buffalo is a city that welcomes refugees and believes government should protect human dignity, not endanger it. U.S. Customs and Border Protection failed that basic standard.”

U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy, whose jurisdiction includes Buffalo, released the following statement:

"The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam is a horrific and heartbreaking tragedy," his statement said. "Mr. Alam should be alive and with his loved ones today. Instead, after days of fear and uncertainty, his family is now grieving an unimaginable loss. There must be a full and transparent investigation at the local, state, and federal levels. The public and Mr. Alam's family deserve answers immediately."

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, released the following statement:

“Border Patrol took a nearly blind father, barely able to communicate, and seemingly abandoned him in the cold far from his home without telling his loved ones,” Schumer said. “My heart breaks for Nurul Amin Shah Alam’s family. He should be alive — and this should have never happened. Alam’s family deserves answers from ICE and CBP and we must have an immediate independent investigation.”

Grace Meng, a Democrat representing areas of New York City, described a “shocking breach of responsibility and basic humanity by federal enforcement”.

New York State Attorney General Letitia wrote in a letter in response to to Rep. Tim Kennedy that her “office is continuing to gather and review facts as to any state or local involvement in this tragedy” and is prepared to coordinate with federal authorities as necessary. James also said her office is coordinating with the Buffalo Police Department to “canvass for additional witnesses and surveillance footage” that may help her office understand what happened to Shah Alam.

In a statement, Buffalo police spokesperson Timothy Richards said the department is not subject to James’ investigation and confirmed it is working alongside her office. “We are happy to work with our law enforcement partners to ascertain what occurred,” Richards said.

Kaitlyn Munro, a spokesperson for Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane, said their office, too, is assisting with the investigation.

A 14 year old boy was killed in a high speed pursuit initiated by Buffalo Police that ended in a crash.

Buffalo police claimed in a news release that the incident began when Northwest District officers saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed south on Elmwood Avenue near Hertel Avenue at about 11:30 p.m on November 10th, 2024. Officers allegedly “attempted to catch up to the vehicle with lights and sirens engaged,” according to the department.

The Hyundai Elantra the teenager was driving collided with a vehicle going east on Amherst Street, spun and hit another vehicle heading north on Elmwood, police said. The teenager – the sole occupant in the vehicle he was driving – was taken by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center, where he died.

Outcome

The Buffalo Police Department’s Accident Investigations Unit and Internal Affairs Division are investigating. Buffalo Police also contacted the state Attorney General’s Office, which will investigate. No publicly available information regarding the outcome of the investigation or disciplinary action has been released.

CW // Police Violence

Around 12:30 AM on July 9th, Buffalo Police Officers Ronald Ammerman and Jonathan Crawford pulled over Dae'von Roberts, a 25 year old Black man, for speeding and having tinted windows on the East Side of Buffalo. Roberts was driving a family members vehicle and had a 6 year old in the front seat.

Ammerman asked Roberts for his license which he explained he didn't have. He did provide the officer with a photo of his Georgia State ID on his phone. The officer went back to the police vehicle to check the ID. When the officer returned, he told Roberts that it wasn't a valid driver's license in New York State, even though Roberts had explained he lived in Georgia.

Ammerman then told Roberts that he was going to run his name a different way. Without consent for a search, the officer proceeded to reach his arm through the open drivers side window and opened Robert's door. The officer continued to hold the door open and told Roberts to put his phone down. As Roberts put his phone down he put the vehicle in drive. The officer continued to hold onto the door that he had just opened as Roberts accelerated. Ammerman faught Roberts for control of the vehicle, pulled out his gun while still holding on to the vehicle, and fired multiple rounds towards Roberts and in the same direction of the 6 year old child. Roberts tried to push Ammerman off as he fired. He then lunged towards the direction of the gun fire throwing himself in the opposite direction of the child into the middle of the street.

Roberts continued to bleed out in the street. He was transported to Erie County Medical Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Outcome

Both officers are on mandatory administrative leave while the police investigates itself. The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened a special investigation into the killing of Dae'von.

Dae'von Roberts is half-brother of Jaylen Griffin who went missing in 2020. Despite a relentless search by family and community and being labeled a "runaway," Jaylen was found deceased in the attic of a home only 5 miles from his home with a history of dead bodies four years after he went missing. Jaylen appeared to have been deceased for a considerable amount of time. Jaylen and Dae'von’s mother, passed away in September from what is described as a “broken heart.”

Individuals organized outside of Hochstetter Hall at UB's North Campus to call for a ceasefire to the genocide in Gaza and for the University at Buffalo and the UB Foundation to divest from Israel. Specifically, SUNY Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) “wants financial divestment of all stocks, funds, partnerships, endowments and other monetary instruments from companies complicit in human rights abuse in Palestine, an academic boycott of Israeli institutions and universities, and they demand financial investments into education on Palestinian culture, literature, social movements, history and diaspora.”

After arriving at Capen Hall, protesters began setting up tents on the lawn next to Hochstetter Hall. An officer speaking through a loudspeaker ordered the protesters to disassemble those tents and place them on a nearby sidewalk within 20 minutes or face arrest. They cited a university policy from 2020 that “prohibits indoor and outdoor encampments” and “overnight assemblies.” Three students driving a U-Haul van with additional wooden pallets for the encampment were ordered to drive away from the crowd.

In response to the order to break up the camp, protesters booed the officers, shouting that UB was “our school” and that they were “legally allowed to remain for 12 hours.” The protesters still complied with the police order and removed their tents, transitioning to a sit-in.

At 8 p.m., police ordered the protesters gathered outside of Hochstetter to disperse before 8:22 p.m. or face arrest. Shortly after, University Campus Police, New York State Police, Erie County Sheriff Deputies, Buffalo Police, Amherst Police, Kenmore Police, both town and city Tonawanda Police, Lancaster Police, Cheektowaga Police, Orchard Park Police, West Seneca Police and Evans Police descended on the sit-in specifically targeting Muslim students who were wrapping up prayers. A UB spokesperson said that UB requested the outside officers come “as a precaution” and to “provide UPD with additional support if needed.”

Most protesters remained in place with locked arms as police closed in, chanting “free Palestine” and “end genocide.” Others were arrested and placed into marked police cars or onto a UB Stampede bus. Police chased the crowd toward Mary Talbert Way, continuing to make violent arrests. Multiple officers tackled protesters. One officer was filmed pushing a demonstrator’s face into the ground.

There was a ratio of at least 2:1 cop:protester. A feme presenting student's hijab was unraveled as she was forcibly restrained. One protestor's head was slammed into a door and had to be treated at the hospital for his injuries. A 67 year old man also had to be treated at the hospital for an injury to his arm.

One non-UPD officer pushed a Spectrum editor attempting to film the arrests and told him to "get the f—k out of here." When the editor identified himself as media, the officer said, "I don't care."

A small number of protesters briefly barricaded themselves in Capen Hall, which houses many of UB’s administrative offices. A Stampede bus carrying roughly 10 detained protesters left campus around 9 p.m. The protesters inside could be heard chanting “free Palestine” as the bus drove by Hochstetter. After protesters had largely dispersed, police returned to the site of the attempted encampment and Founders Plaza. They confiscated belongings left at the site as evidence like granola bars.

Though there were no announced counter-protests, some Jewish Student Union members laughed at the anti-genocide demonstrators. One did push-ups next to the protest. While police were arresting demonstrators, two individuals held up an Israeli flag. One shouted, “F—k those terrorists.”

Outcome

UB claimed 15 arrests were made. Protest organizers said that the actual number was 18. According to UB, the charges that were filed included:

• Loitering

• Trespassing

• Disorderly conduct

• Resisting arrest

All those who faced charges, have had them dismissed.

9 participants of the protest filed a Notice of Claim against Erie County, Erie County Sheriff's Office, the Town of Amherst, the Amherst Police Department, the City of Buffalo, the City of Buffalo Police Department, the Village of Kenmore, the Kenmore Police Department, the Town of Tonawanda, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, the City of Tonawanda, the City of Tonawanda Police Department, the Town of Hamburg, the Town of Hamburg Police Department, the Village of Hamburg, the Village of Hamburg Police Department, Buffalo Police Officer Sean Ford, Buffalo Police Officer Michael Maritato, Buffalo Police Officer Bradley Caruana, and Police Officers John Doe #1-60 for personal injuries and civil rights violations, loss of income and medical expenses, equitable damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees and costs for the police brutality and violation of protected First Amendment Rights they sustained on May 1st, 2024.

One UB student said: "I feel like what they teach us in the class, and what they've taught us our whole lives about how we have freedom of speech, how we're in a democracy, just went out the window. We are out here trying to exercise our rights and those rights are being violated. It makes me feel angry against the (UB) president because I'm genuinely wondering, 'Where are you?' Your students are being violently arrested."

Another student said: "I'm hoping that at some point UB divests, I hope at some point that we see some change, but this is the situation right now and we have to fight somehow."

On April 11th, 2024 Chief of Narcotics and Intelligence for the Erie County Sheriff’s Department Daniel "DJ" Granville, negligently, recklessly, and carelessly drove his county-owned vehicle into eight parked cars on Buffalo’s West Side. 911 recordings from that night reveal multiple callers reporting a hit-and-run. The owner of one of the damaged vehicles claimed in a lawsuit that Granville "was in an impaired condition" at the time of the crashes.

The Buffalo Police Department accident report from that night was signed off by Buffalo Police Lieutenant Lucia Esquilin — who is Granville’s sister-in-law. Five police officers, including Esquilin, are listed as as responding to the 911 calls, along with seven “other personnel.” Granville does not appear to have been given a sobriety test. He was ticketed for driving the wrong way down a one-way street and later paid a $150 fine for jaywalking. Buffalo Police said there was no body camera footage from the responding officers.

His wife, Maria Esquilin Granville — Lieutenant Esquilin’s sister — was a Buffalo police crime technician for more than 11 years. She now works for the Buffalo Sewer Authority.

One witness said the narcotics chief was taken away from the scene in a Buffalo patrol car. His truck and the cars he’d damaged were towed to the city auto impound on Dart Street, while Buffalo cops interviewed witnesses and collected information at the scene.

Outcome

City of Buffalo Response

The Buffalo Police Internal Affairs Division and the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office are conducting parallel investigations — one into how the incident was handled by responding officers, and another into Granville himself.

Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane said in a statement that a close family relative of Granville works at the DA’s office and therefore, his office cannot oversee the case. As a result, Erie County Court Judge Sheila DiTullio appointed Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman as the special prosecutor for the case, Keane announced.

Chris Scanlon, Buffalo's Acting Mayor, has stated that he cannot not comment due to the ongoing internal affairs investigation, and that the accident occurred before he became Acting Mayor. Scanlon was at the time of the accident, and still is the South District Council Member.

During a Council meeting, Niagara District Council Member David Rivera introduced a letter to Buffalo Police Commissioner Al Wright asking him to attend the next Police Oversight Committee Meeting to discuss what happened. He said that, “it’s important this Common Council go on record just as the legislature that we’re not going to sweep it under the rug, This is not accusatory nor exculpatory. This is trying to find out information on what occurred, the conduct of the officers and whether or not this matter can be referred to the State Attorney General’s Office." Commissioner Wright attended the oversight meeting, read a prepared statement, and said he would not be taking questions about the case because of the ongoiing investigation.

Rivera, has also asked the state Attorney General’s Office to investigate the incident involving Granville and the failures of the Erie County Sheriff's Office and the Buffalo Police Department. In a letter to the New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ Office, Rivera outlines “serious concerns” regarding how the incident was handled at the scene, noting that Buffalo police officers allegedly “failed to follow standard protocol, including activating body cameras, conducting field sobriety tests, and interviewing witnesses.” In a press release Rivera said, “Given the delays, lack of transparency, and the serious nature of the alleged misconduct and procedural lapses, I believe it is in the public’s best interest for the New York State Attorney General to step in as a neutral, independent body,” “The residents of Buffalo, especially those directly impacted, deserve answers and accountability.”

A spokesperson for James said the office is “monitoring the matter” but the spokesperson did not elaborate further.

Erie County Response

Several claims related to the crash have cost Erie County taxpayers nearly $60,000 to settle. Despite this, Granville remained in his position until May 2025, when he was put on paid administrative leave.

Erie County Sheriff John Garcia was asked about the allegations and said, “the Buffalo Police Department is doing an internal affairs investigation, so until that concludes to me it’s a car accident, I haven’t heard otherwise and I think from day one my administration and myself have been transparent in every single case that has come before me and that won’t change, that will continue.”

Although Garcia has said his office did not conduct its own investigation into whether Granville was intoxicated when he damaged eight vehicles on April 11, 2024, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office is currently is currently conducting an internal affairs investigation.  The sheriff’s Accident Investigation Unit is typically dispatched whenever a county vehicle is involved in a crash. The Sheriff's Office also opens Professional Standards Division investigations into any alleged misconduct by deputies, but there is no indication that either was done in Granville's case.  

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, “we understand from District Attorney Michael Keane’s statement that the Buffalo Police Department Internal Affairs Division sought consultation regarding the response of the Buffalo police officers who conducted the on-scene investigation after one of our employees damaged seven vehicles on April 11th, 2024. District Attorney Keane petitioned the court to have the matter transferred. We will fully cooperate with Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman if called upon. We continue to await the results of the Buffalo Police Department Internal Affairs Division investigation so that we can conclude our internal investigation.”

Erie County Legislature Chairman Tim Meyers said there is a “a lack of transparency” from both the sheriff’s office and the Buffalo Police Department.

The Erie County Legislature originally set a date — April 24 — for its own public hearings to investigate the Granville controversy. Legislature Meyers, said legislators invited Garcia, Granville and Erie County Attorney Jeremy Toth. Garcia said he would appear before lawmakers to answer questions.

The legislature later announced that it had postponed its review of D.J. Granville. The legislature said it will wait until the Buffalo Police Department’s internal investigation is done before holdings its review. Buffalo police’s investigation cannot conclude until the Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman, the special prosecutor in the case, completes his probe.

Following the investigation by Special Prosecutor Seaman, DJ Granville pleaded guilty in Buffalo City Court to reckless driving and leaving the scene of a property damage only accident. He was sentenced to a $550 fine and 50 hours of community service. DJ Granville has been suspended without pay. Seaman said Buffalo police officers refused to give supporting depositions. The DA cited other challenges in the investigation; including no chemical or breath tests, no field sobriety tests were given that night, and no body cam footage was preserved.

Buffalo Police Officers Joshua Slupinski and Andrew Lewis fired 20 rounds at Edward Holmes, hitting him twice after Holmes attempted to discharge a round and then lowered his 12-gauge shotgun. Officers told Holmes to put down the gun several times, but no other de-escalation tactics were used. The shotgun malfunctioned when Holmes tried to fire a round, becoming jammed in the receiver. It is believed that this is what led Holmes to lift the gun at a 45-degree angle in an attempt to clear the obstruction.

Holmes, who died at the scene, just minutes earlier had phoned the Ferry-Fillmore District police station just moments earlier from his cellphone to report an armed individual in the roadway.

Outcome

Both officers were been put on administrative leave. No other publicly available information has been released regarding disciplinary action.

Retired Buffalo police officer Antonio Roman, 67, admitted to assault after shooting a 14-year-old in the parking lot of Marine Drive Apartments.

Roman suspected a group of stealing property from vehicles in the parking lot around 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 8. He then shot the teen in the leg before the group drove away. An ambulance transported the teen to Oishei Children’s Hospital for surgery.

Outcome

Roman was released on previously posted bail. He pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment. Roman pleaded guilty on Feb. 4, 2025, the day jury selection was set to begin. He admitted to second-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment. Roman was sentenced to five years of probation. An order of protection remains on behalf of the victim until May 14, 2033.

Police officers responded to a call regarding an attempted suicide on Tonawanda St. Jon Battison, a 36-year-old man, was observed with a long pellet gun aimed at his own head. He never directed it towards the police.

Battison asked the officers whether they were going to shoot him given that he was holding a gun to his own head. Subsequently, the officers shouted at Battison to lower the pellet gun, and no further efforts at deescalation were undertaken.

One officer declared an intent to shoot. "OK," responded Battison, maintaining the pellet gun pointed at his own head.

Outcome

Battison was taken by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center, where he was listed in critical but stable condition and was held in police custody, with charges on criminal possession of weapons.

The officer was temporarily placed on administrative leave and faced no charges.

A 30-year-old man was allegedly attempting to leave a CVS store with items he didn't pay for. An off-duty Buffalo Police officer working as the store security guard shot the man, hitting him in the hand. He was transported to ECMC for what according to police were non-life-threatening injuries.

Outcome

No publicly available information has been released regarding disciplinary action.

On June 8, 2023, Buffalo Police officers pursued a stolen vehicle. The driver stopped the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving it in neutral. The vehicle rolled backward and struck a patrol car belonging to the responding officers.

When officer Justin Ayala arrived, he observed the stolen vehicle against the patrol car. He instructed several officers on scene to turn off their body-worn cameras, requested keys to the patrol car, and moved the patrol car so it was no longer in contact with the vehicle.

Because the stolen vehicle remained in neutral, it rolled backward again, striking the patrol car a second time and another nearby vehicle.

Internal Investigation

During BPD’s internal investigation, officer Ayala stated he moved the patrol car to check for damage and because the vehicle would eventually be towed. He claimed he did not know accident investigators would be notified and denied attempting to conceal the accident. He also admitted that he asked officers to turn off their body-worn cameras “to make jokes.”

Findings

• Officer Ayala interfered with the investigation of a city-involved accident.

• Officer Ayala violated the body-worn camera policy by instructing officers to turn off their cameras.

Officer Ayala was found in violation of:

• Chapter I, Section 1.1 (BPD Rules & Regulations)

• Chapter III, Sections 3.2(a) and/or 3.2(b) (BPD Rules & Regulations)

• BPD Body-Worn Camera Policy

On February 2, 2024, the Department served formal charges against Officer Ayala for the above violations. He pled guilty and accepted a one-day suspension as disciplinary action to resolve the charges.

The New York State Office of the Attorney General concured with BPD's conclusion that Officer Ayala committed misconduct by interfering with the accident investigation and violating BPD’s body-worn camera policy.

On May 7, 2023, BPD officers, including Officer Justin Ayala, responded to a dispute between a mother and her 14-year-old daughter. Upon arrival, several officers spoke with the mother in front of her home while the daughter stood across the street (approximately 15–20 feet away), yelling and cursing at her mother and the officers.

The officers and the mother discussed leaving the daughter outside and departing since the dispute had ended. During this exchange, Officer Ayala made several unprofessional and discourteous remarks:

• “I can’t deal with that shit for four more years”

• “You got four years, fuck that shit.”

• “I ain’t worried about her, she didn’t do nothing anyways.”

• Recounting a prior encounter: “Last time she got out of the car, she’s a pussy, she ran.”

• “People that want to fight us, you know what they do? They hop out the car and they fight us. They don’t talk about how they want to fight us. She ran like a pussy.”

The daughter overheard these comments, yelled at officers, and approached them. Officer Ayala motioned toward her and said, “C’mon, c’mon, I’m right here, c’mon.”

When the daughter reached toward him, Officer Ayala grabbed her arms and took her to the ground. Other officers assisted with handcuffing.

During the restraint, one officer asked, “Still think it’s a smart idea?”

The daughter responded, “No.”

The officer then said, “Then shut the fuck up.”

After handcuffing, Officer Ayala and another officer stood the daughter up and escorted her to a patrol car. During transport, her arms were pulled upward toward her shoulders.

In his interview with the Office of the Attorney General(OAG), Officer Ayala stated the daughter allegedly refused to walk, so they tilted her body forward, which caused her arms to move higher, but denied they were lifted to shoulder height. The body-worn camera footage did not show verbal commands or resistance at this point.

The daughter was charged with obstructing governmental administration in the 2nd degree and resisting arrest. The arrest report stated she resisted by, “tensing her body and attempting to recoil both her arms beneath her chest.” She sustained road rash injuries to her face from the takedown and arrest.

Post-Incident Review

During his OAG interview, Officer Ayala admitted his comments were made out of frustration and acknowledged they were inappropriate.

BPD’s internal investigation ended with a finding of “other.” Officer Ayala was required to attend a supervisor conference regarding his conduct.

BPD found that Officer Ayala violated:

• Rules & Regulations, Chapter I, Section 2.13 (discourtesy/unprofessional conduct)

• Use of Force Policy, Section 6.2(J) – officers “should not use tactics that unnecessarily escalate an encounter or create a need for force.”

The review concluded that Officer Ayala’s unprofessional comments directly escalated the situation, provoking the daughter and resulting in unnecessary force, avoidable injuries, and an arrest without probable cause for obstruction.

Officer Ayala committed misconduct during this incident by using insulting and provocative language toward a 14-year-old, encouraging physical confrontation, and violating BPD’s standards of professional conduct and use of force policy.

Buffalo Police Officer's recklessly left a sniper rifle on a tripod unattended at the edge of a rooftop overlooking a St. Patrick's Day Parade, and it fell to the street after an alleged gust of wind. The rifle fell within feet of parade spectators. It was then secured by another officer and removed from the scene.

Outcome

Buffalo Police confirmed the incident saying it did happen, and that Internal Affairs will look into the matter. No other information regarding disciplinary action has been publicly released.

Buffalo Police Officer James McAndrew grabbed a 32-year-old man and shoved him into the side of a staircase, damaging the railings. McAndrew also pushed a woman who tried to get between him and the other man.

Outcome

McAndrew was arrested and temporarily suspended by the department without pay. He pled not guilty and was released on his own recognizance, according to court records. He was charged with two misdemeanors – fourth-degree criminal mischief and second-degree trespassing – as well as second-degree harassment.