CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — The Cheektowaga Police Department is asking for the public to come forward with any information they have about a fatal shooting that took place outside a restaurant in February.
“The police are here to help our community, but the community needs to help the police,” chief of police Brian Gould said Thursday at a news conference.
The Cheektowaga Police Department held a news conference Thursday to provide an update about the fatal shooting that took place at 33 Speakeasy Grill on Feb. 22 when DeAngelo Williams, 24, of Buffalo was shot multiple times in a parking lot outside the bar. He was taken to ECMC, where he later died.
Police reported that investigators believe Williams was trying to break up a fight that took place outside of the restaurant when the shooting started.
Williams’ sister spoke Thursday and said his heroic actions don’t come as a surprise.
“He wouldn't allow anyone to harm anyone, so that's not shocking for him to step in the middle and play peacemaker,” said his sister, Weslyn Ward.
Police say that when the gunshots occurred people fled. A suspect has not been publicly identified.
“There are people in the community who know what happened,” Gould said. “There are people who witnessed this. There are people talking about it and may have heard who did it. All of that we're interested in. We need the community to come forward and help us out.”
While police have been able to speak with witnesses, they are still seeking more information and fewer people are cooperating. They are now asking people to call them or reach out through an anonymous tip line.
The victim’s family echoed that message.
“Our family would do the same for any other family, so we just asked you to keep us in your prayers. Keep us in your thoughts. Please share what you know,” Ward said.
If anyone has any information on the shooting, you're asked to contact Lt. Justin Haag at (716) 686-7457 or send a confidential text to TIP411 (847411) and start your message with CPDNY. You can also visit cpdny.org to leave an anonymous tip.