Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A jury has convicted 31-year-old Matthew Gerwitz of the City of Tonawanda on charges of Murder in the Second Degree, six counts of Attempted Murder and Criminal Possession of a Weapon after approximately five hours of deliberation following an eight-day trial. In all, Gerwitz was convicted of all 12 counts in the indictment against him.
It was back on May 26, 2020 at approximately 1:10 a.m. ET, Gerwitz intentionally shot 32-year-old Joseph Marasco on the corner of Morgan Street and Clinton Street in the City of Tonawanda. Marasco, who was playing a cell phone game on the sidewalk at the time of the incident, was shot in the torso.
The victim was taken by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center, where he later died. He was not known to Gerwitz.
Gerwitz drove away, but two hours later, returned to the area and retreated back inside of his Morgan Street apartment as City of Tonawanda Police investigated the crime scene down the street. Once inside of the residence, he intentionally fired multiple shots at four police officers who were outside of the apartment.
One of the police officers, a detective who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was shot multiple times. He was transported to ECMC, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The other three officers were not injured.
Gerwitz then tried to drive off and exchanged gunfire with two police officers during their pursuit. Gerwitz was apprehended after a brief high-speed chase that ended a short distance away when police rammed his car with their patrol vehicles on Morgan Street near Kohler Street.
A police lieutenant suffered a sprained wrist and a back injury as a result of the collision. Another officer, who was in a separate patrol vehicle, was unharmed.
During the investigation, three illegal handguns were found inside his residence.
If sentenced consecutively, Gerwitz faces a maximum possible sentence of up to 205 years-to-life in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced before Erie County Court Judge Sheila DiTullio on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Gerwitz continues to be held without bail.
Erie County District Attorney
