Incident

Incident Description

Tony Vives, a young Puerto Rican man, was murdered by Buffalo Police at Precinct No. 7 in the old First Ward after being brutally beaten and arrested on false charges of "creating a disturbance" and "resisting arrest." During this time, the old First Ward was a community of poor white, Black, and Puerto Rican people.

Vives was arrested by officer Terry Adams on September 8th while relaxing with some friends on the front steps of a house at Fulton Street and Red Jacket Street. Adams chased Vives into the house, and threatened, "I'll blow your brains out right now." Officer Adams had previously been heard telling Vives on several occasions, "I'm gonna get you," according to many of his friends.

Vives asked repeatedly why he was being arrested, but was answered only with beatings from Adam's large metal flashlight. The owner of the house stopped Adams from shooting Vives on the spot and ordered him out of the house. After calling for backup, Adams returned to handcuff Vives and take him away.

The community reacted immediately to the senselessness of the arrest. Several people went down to the precinct, where they were told of Vives' death. The police claimed it was suicide.

News of the murder sparked two nights of militants protests. Residents took to the streets throwing debris at cops, tossing firebombs at the police station, and spray painting Vives' name, "No. Seven are murderers," and "Pay back" all over the area.

Precinct 7 had a long and notorious record of harassing the community.