Buffalo police brutally shoots black man during traffic stop

A Buffalo police officer fatally shot a black man while clinging to the black man’s car after the black man sped off with a six-year-old child in the front seat during a traffic stop.

Ronald Ammerman, a white police officer in Buffalo, pulled over 25-year-old Dae’von Roberts just after midnight on Wednesday for speeding and having tinted windows, the Buffalo Police Department stated.

Upon approaching the vehicle, Ammerman noticed the six-year-old boy, whom Roberts identified first as his “little cousin” and then as his “nephew”, sitting in the front seat without a seatbelt. Roberts initially agreed to provide identification, but the officer found the ID photo invalid and discovered that Roberts did not have a licence in "either state."

When Ammerman informed Roberts that authorities would conduct a further search, Roberts suddenly accelerated with the officer holding onto the car door frame. “You’re gonna kill me, bro,” Ammerman repeatedly pleaded as the car sped away. Despite the officer’s pleas to slow down, Roberts continued to drive erratically and even attempted to kick Ammerman off the car.

Ammerman then pulled out his gun and fired several rounds, causing Roberts to tumble out of the moving vehicle onto the officer. The bodycam footage shows Ammerman clutching the car for about 20 seconds before shooting Roberts, with both falling onto the street. “Shots fired! There’s a kid in the car still. He tried killing me,” Ammerman shouted into his radio while rushing to check on the unharmed child.

Ammerman, a seven-and-a-half-year department veteran, and Crawford have been placed on administrative leave per department policy. Gramaglia stated, “I believe that is a justified use of force that occurred the other night.” Police found a loaded 9mm Taurus handgun under the driver’s seat of the car, which did not belong to Roberts.

Buffalo homicide detectives and the Internal Affairs Division are investigating the incident. In April, Roberts was charged with several offences, including second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Gramaglia remarked, “It’s a very sad situation all the way around. This family has been through a lot over the past several years.”