ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — One person is dead after being shot and killed by police late Friday evening, according to the Orchard Park Police Department.
In a news release, Chief Patrick Fitzgerald provided few details about the "critical incident," stating only that a citizen died as a result of police gunfire and that it was too early to discuss specifics.
Chief Fitzgerald scheduled a 4:30 p.m. news conference Saturday to provide an update. It lasted 3 minutes, 19 seconds, and he refused to answer any questions. Here's what he said:
- A 911 call around 8:50 p.m. Friday described a man with a gun and a knife at Hawthorne Drive and Poplar Avenue.
- The man had a knife, advanced toward officers, did not listen to warnings, and that is when officers shot him.
- Officers attempted to provide care after shots fired, and EMS was called seconds after shots were fired.
- The two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.
- Police are not currently releasing identities of anyone’s involved.
2 On Your Side has reached out to find out where and when the incident happened and to ask about the identity of the victim. We also spoke with neighbors, but they did not want to be interviewed on camera.
The initial news release said "there is a lot of work that has to be done on the investigation" and that "solid facts will be released once they are available."
According to Orchard Park Police, the New York State Police Forensic Identification Unit and the New York State Attorney General's Office are working with the department.
State law requires police departments to alert the state Office of Special Investigation when a death is caused by a member or members of law enforcement.