A Hamburg man has been charged following a violent carjacking spree that resulted in the death of a pedestrian. Mark G. Whalen, 31, was arraigned in Tonawanda City Court after prosecutors from the Erie County District Attorney's Office filed multiple felony charges against him including second-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death.
The series of events began in Evans with a hit-and-run incident and escalated as Whalen struck another vehicle on Church Street in Buffalo. The spree culminated in a tragic hit-and-run in the City of Tonawanda where Whalen fatally struck a 40-year-old man.
Following this incident, he reportedly carjacked a vehicle in the Town of Tonawanda before being apprehended after colliding with another vehicle in North Tonawanda. In addition to the manslaughter charge, Whalen faces charges of third-degree grand larceny, second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and reckless driving, all misdemeanors.
During his arrest, police discovered what they believed to be a small amount of cocaine in Whalen's possession. He is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to return to court on November 15th for a felony hearing.
Man Charged in Deadly Carjacking Spree that Ended in North Tonawanda