Police Commissioner Urges Parents to Monitor Children's Whereabouts After Summer School
On Wednesday afternoon, two teenage boys were hospitalized after being stabbed during a fight in Downtown Buffalo. The Buffalo Police Department (BPD) has deemed the actions of the teen responsible for the stabbings as justified, citing self-defense. Essentially, police said the bullied teen was justified in stabbing two juveniles, both of whom were hospitalized.
The altercation occurred around 12:30pm in the vicinity of Main Street and Mohawk Street. The victims, both summer school students from Burgard High School, were immediately rushed to Oishei Children's Hospital for treatment. One of the boys remains in critical but stable condition while the other is expected to recover.
Providing an update on the incident, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia revealed that the stabbings were a result of a large fight involving approximately 10 teenagers assaulting a single teen. In an act of self-defense, the teen being assaulted pulled out a knife and stabbed the two aggressors.
Commissioner Gramaglia emphasized that the teen responsible for the stabbings was not a summer school student but was working a summer youth job. He expressed concern over the escalating violence during the first week of summer school with several fights reported in different locations. Gramaglia also highlighted the need for parents to be aware of their children's whereabouts, particularly after summer school.
He revealed that he had spoken with Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams who had sent out a robocall urging parents to prevent their children from heading downtown. Commissioner Gramaglia stressed that summer school buildings are not located in the downtown core and urged parents to ensure their children return home or to their designated locations after classes.
As investigations into the incident continue, the BPD remains committed to maintaining a safe environment for all residents and students in Buffalo.