Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia provided an update on Wednesday morning after an officer-involved shooting where a police officer shot and killed a man during a traffic stop.
According to Gramaglia, the traffic stop initially began due to an apparent speeding violation and tinted windows. During the stop, the officers noticed a 6-year-old boy in the front passenger seat without a seat belt. The officers requested the driver's identification, to which he claimed he did not have his license but provided an alternative form of ID.
One of the officers returned to the police vehicle to verify the driver's ID but was unable to find a valid driver's license. Upon returning to the driver's side window, the officer asked him to step out of the vehicle. Instead of complying, the driver accelerated, with the officer holding onto the door.
Gramaglia stated that the driver reached speeds of over 60 MPH down Kensington Avenue while the officer pleaded for him to stop. Fearing for his life, the officer drew his weapon and fired multiple shots at the driver. Both the officer and the driver were thrown from the vehicle, and the officer immediately attended to the safety of the 6-year-old boy.
Medical assistance was provided to the driver at the scene and he was subsequently transported to Erie County Medical Center. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The officer sustained minor injuries and was treated and released.
During a search of the vehicle, which was not registered to the driver, police discovered a 9 mm Taurus handgun under the driver's seat. The driver's identity has not been released by the police, nor have the names of the officers involved.
According to a family supporter, the driver was identified as Dae’von Roberts, a 25-year-old resident of Buffalo. Roberts was the half-brother of Jaylen Griffin, a 12-year-old boy who went missing in 2020 and was found deceased in April. Kareema Morris, the executive director of Bury the Violence, who has been supporting the family in their search for Jaylen, described Roberts as a loving and family-oriented man.
Records indicate that Roberts was indicted in June on charges related to firing gunshots following a vigil for his brother. He was charged with attempted assault and weapons possession to which he pleaded not guilty and was released under supervision.
The body camera footage from the officers involved in Wednesday's incident will be released on Thursday after the driver's family has had an opportunity to view it. The Attorney General's Office is conducting an investigation into the shooting as mandated by the governor's executive order.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Gramaglia expressed his horror and emphasized the traumatic nature of the incident. He commended the officer's actions, stating that the situation could have resulted in severe injury or death for the officer if he had not taken the necessary action.
The community mourns the loss of Dae’von Roberts, and his family and friends remember him as a loving and protective individual. The investigation into the shooting will continue as authorities seek to provide a comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired.