Buffalo, NY (WBEN) A Buffalo man was arraigned in connection with the stabbing of a Buffalo Police officer that led to an officer involved shooting and the robbery of a rideshare driver.
35 year old Derrick Harris was arraigned this afternoon at Erie County Medical Center before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case on an indictment charging him with the following offenses:
- One count of Robbery in the First Degree (Class B violent felony)
- One count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree (Class C violent felony)
- One count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class D violent felony)
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (Class D felony)
- One count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (Class E felony)
- One count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree (Class A misdemeanor)
Prosecutors say on May 23rd, Buffalo Police officers on routine patrol were driving on Deshler Street when they were stopped by a pedestrian near Broadway who informed the officers a person who was wanted for the stabbing of her boyfriend that allegedly happened the day before on May 22..
Buffalo Police officers located Harris, who officers say was armed with deadly weapons, a razor and a pair of scissors, on Broadway and Liddell Street. As police approached, officers say he refused multiple commands by police to drop the weapons, stabbing one of the officers with the razor. The other officer deployed his Taser, which caused Harris to fall to the ground, but investigators say refused to drop the weapons and stabbed himself in the neck with the scissors.
Police say Harris refused the officers’ orders to drop the weapon and continued to injure his neck after he stood up and walked across Broadway. Investigators say Harris was shot when he tried to grab the injured officer’s arm that held his drawn gun. After Harris was shot, officers disarmed him.
Responding officers immediately performed life-saving measures until Harris was transported by ambulance to ECMC. He remains hospitalized to receive treatment for gunshot wounds to his lower body as well as self-inflicted injuries to his chest and neck. The injured officer was taken in a patrol vehicle to ECMC where was treated for a stab wound to his back.
During the investigation, police say they recovered a razor, scissors and several stolen credit cards from the scene, which were placed into evidence.
Prosecutors add earlier that day, around 1:30am, Harris robbed a rideshare driver, while armed with a knife, in the Broadway area of Buffalo, stealing the victim’s wallet, bracelet and cellphone.
“My office conducted a thorough review of this officer-involved shooting. We have determined that the actions of the police officers were justified. The member of the Buffalo Police Department who fired the shots that resulted in injuries to the defendant has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing,” said Erie County DA Mike Keane.
Harris was held without bail. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.
If convicted of the highest count, Harris faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
