Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Buffalo Police are investigating an incident involving two officers shooting a man at around 4:30 a.m. ET on Monday in the 1900 block of Hertel Avenue.
According to Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, Police in District D responded to a threats call from an individual stating someone was trying to kill them. When officers arrived, they encountered a 31-year-old individual in the stairwell of the apartment building, who was in crisis suffering with a mental health episode. That individual had also produced a large knife, something that would resemble a survival knife.
"Officers were calmly trying to speak with the individual, and they quickly recognize that they needed to exit that stairwell," said Gramaglia on Monday at Buffalo City Hall. "The officers, in every attempt to de-escalate the situation, exited the building and backed out. The individual came down the stairwell and exited the front door, while officers continue to retreat from the building, making their way back to the sidewalk and ultimately into Hertel Avenue. The individual - continuing forward with his knife in his hand - [continued to move] towards the officers. The officers were speaking to him in a very calm manner, trying to help him through with any issues that he was having and trying to engage him in a conversation. At this point, the individual lunged at officers and started running at officers, where two officers discharged their weapon and struck the individual multiple times."
Officers quickly moved in to render first aid to the individual after he was shot, as he was suffering from a mental health crisis. An ambulance was called in, where he was then transferred to ECMC. He is currently listed in serious, but stable condition.
Gramaglia says police have encountered the individual very recently, dating back to this past Wednesday for a separate incident.
No officers involved in the incident were injured, and officers were wearing body cameras with this incident. Gramaglia says the footage from the cameras has been viewed, and it will be released at some point in the near future.
In accordance to department regulations, any time there is an officer-involved shooting, those individuals are placed on paid administrative leave.
You can listen to Commissioner Gramaglia's comments on the incident below:
