Authorities in the Buffalo, New York, area are managing two separate public safety incidents that have raised concerns among residents. In Cheektowaga, officials are addressing a threat made against Maryvale High School, while in Buffalo, an investigation is underway after a police officer shot a woman during an altercation.
Key Takeaways
- Officials at Maryvale Union Free School District confirmed a threat was made to "blow up" the high school and harm students.
- Police have issued an extreme risk protection order against the individual responsible, who is not a current student.
- In a separate incident in Buffalo, a police officer shot a woman after she allegedly stabbed a man in the head.
- The woman and the man who was stabbed sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to ECMC.
- Investigations into both incidents are ongoing by local law enforcement and the Erie County District Attorney's Office.
Maryvale High School Threat Under Investigation
Officials with the Maryvale Union Free School District have moved to reassure the community after a significant threat against Maryvale High School was reported. The district confirmed that an individual had made plans to cause extensive harm to the school and its students.
According to reports, the threat was made several weeks ago but only recently came to the attention of authorities. The plan allegedly involved an intention to "blow up" the school building and target several specific students for harm.
Legal Action and Official Response
In response to the threat, Cheektowaga police have taken legal action. An extreme risk protection order has been filed against the person identified as being responsible for the threats. The district has emphasized that this individual is not a current student at Maryvale High School.
Superintendent officials released a statement to address community concerns, asserting that the situation is contained. "At this time, there is no risk to any students or the school community," the district's statement read. Officials added that they believe the individual does not possess the means or the capacity to follow through on the stated plans.
What is an Extreme Risk Protection Order?
An Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO), often called a "red flag law," is a civil court order that temporarily prevents someone in crisis from purchasing or possessing firearms. These orders are issued when a person shows signs of being a danger to themselves or others.
The order of protection, which was made public, revealed further details about the individual's intentions. It stated that the person had named specific people they planned to harm and had expressed a desire to acquire a firearm to carry out the attack.
Despite the assurances from the school district, the investigation remains active. Local police are continuing to monitor the situation closely to ensure the continued safety of students, faculty, and the wider Cheektowaga community.
Officer-Involved Shooting on Buffalo's East Side
In a separate and unrelated event, the Buffalo Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred early Saturday morning on the city's East Side. The incident resulted in two people being hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police officers responded to a call on Donovan Drive, located near East Ferry Street, at approximately 2 a.m. Upon arrival, they encountered a woman who was armed with a knife and reportedly behaving in an aggressive manner.
Details of the Confrontation
According to the official police account, officers issued commands for the woman to drop the weapon, but she did not comply. The situation escalated when the woman allegedly moved toward a group of people she knew, still armed with the knife.
An officer first attempted to de-escalate the situation by deploying pepper spray, but this measure was not effective. Police say the woman continued to advance and then stabbed a man in the head.
Incident Timeline
- Approx. 2:00 a.m.: Buffalo Police respond to a call on Donovan Drive.
- Officers encounter a woman with a knife acting aggressively.
- Verbal commands to drop the weapon are ignored.
- An officer uses pepper spray, which fails to stop the woman.
- The woman advances and stabs a man in the head.
- An officer discharges their firearm, striking the woman in the shoulder.
Immediately after the man was stabbed, an officer discharged their service weapon, shooting the woman in the shoulder. Officers at the scene administered first aid to both the woman and the man until emergency medical services arrived. Both individuals were transported to Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) for treatment.
Investigation and Community Reaction
Following the incident, several Buffalo Police officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings. The Erie County District Attorney's Office is now leading the investigation into the use of force.
The Buffalo Police Department has announced that body camera footage of the incident will be released to the public in the coming days. This step is intended to provide transparency as the investigation proceeds.
Zeneta Everhart, the Buffalo Common Council member who represents the Masten District where the shooting occurred, commented on the situation. She confirmed she has been in contact with police and has viewed video of the incident provided by a witness.
"Shocked and heartbroken at the same time — annoyed, right? Like, I mean, those are the feelings when you see something like that," Everhart stated. "What we do know is that we have two people who were seriously injured, right? And so I don’t know what happened before. I don’t know what caused this altercation, and those are the things that we need to know right before we pass judgment."
Everhart urged the public to withhold judgment until the full investigation is complete. "A police officer is the person that shot this person. But was it for good reason? We don’t know that yet," she added.
Authorities are asking anyone with additional information about the altercation on Donovan Drive to contact the Buffalo Police Department's confidential tip line at 716-847-2255 via call or text.