Buffalo police brutally shoot black man during traffic stop

A Buffalo police officer shot and killed a black man as he clung to the black man’s car after the man fled with a six-year-old child in the front seat during a traffic stop.

Ronald Ammerman, a white Buffalo police officer, stopped Dae’von Roberts, 25, shortly after midnight Wednesday for speeding and tinted windows, the Buffalo Police Department said.

As Ammerman approached the vehicle, he noticed the six-year-old boy, whom Roberts first identified as his “little cousin” and then as his “nephew,” sitting in the front seat without a seat belt. Roberts initially agreed to provide identification, but the officer ruled the photo ID invalid and discovered that Roberts did not have a driver’s license in “either state.”

When Ammerman informed Roberts that authorities would conduct a more thorough search, Roberts suddenly accelerated, while the officer held the car door frame. “You’re going to kill me, brother,” Ammerman repeated as the car sped away. Despite the officer’s pleas to slow down, Roberts continued to drive erratically and even tried to throw Ammerman out of the car.

Ammerman then pulled out his gun and fired several shots, causing Roberts to fall from the moving vehicle onto the officer. Body camera footage shows Ammerman holding onto the car for about 20 seconds before shooting Roberts, causing both to fall to the street. “Shots fired! There’s still a kid in the car. He tried to kill me,” Ammerman yelled into his radio as he rushed to check on the unharmed child.

Ammerman’s partner, Officer Jonathan Crawford, captured the moment Roberts fled the scene on body camera. Crawford later arrived on the scene and found Roberts lying motionless. The suspect was transported to Erie County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, according to Buffalo Police Department Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.

Ammerman, a seven-and-a-half-year veteran of the department, and Crawford were placed on administrative leave under department policy. Gramaglia said, “I think it was a justified use of force that happened the other night.” Police found a loaded 9 mm Taurus pistol 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 misdemeanors, including second-degree possession of a weapon. Gramaglia said, “This is a very sad situation in every way. This family has been through a lot over the last few years.”