Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A Buffalo man is charged with phoning in a threat to a pizzeria, invoking Saturday's mass shooting at the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue.
52-year-old Joseph Chowaniec was arraigned Monday morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Andrew LoTempio on a count of making a terroristic threat.
Prosecutors say just after noon yesterday, Chowaniec phoned a pizzeria in downtown Buffalo, spoke with an employee and made a threat, prompting the pizzeria to close for the day. Chowaniec is also accused of calling brewery located in downtown Buffalo, speaking with an employee and making a threat.
In both cases, prosecutors say he made a reference to the Tops shooting.
Chowaniec is scheduled to return to court on Friday, May 20 for a felony hearing. He was remanded without bail, pending the results of a forensic examination.
Judge LoTempio issued temporary no-contact orders of protection on behalf of the victims, which includes their place of employment.
"This defendant is accused of making threatening phone calls to businesses and referencing this horrific shooting as the entire City of Buffalo is grieving this tragedy," said Erie County District Attorney John Flynn. "This crime will not be tolerated – especially as we are actively investigating the Jefferson Avenue shooting as a domestic terrorism incident. Any threat will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
