Morning News Brief

Another shooting involving people inside a car.  Buffalo police are investigating after three men were shot on the 100 block of Isabelle Street.  The shooting occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, the three men were shot while inside a vehicle and were transported by ambulance to ECMC.  Police said a 20-year-old man was pronounced dead at ECMC, a second 20-year-old man is in critical condition and a 19-year-old man is stable.

New York state has shut down a chain of seven unlicensed cannabis dispensaries that allegedly sold cannabis to underage customers.  David Tulley owns and operates eight shops under the “I’m Stuck” name across Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego counties. According to a release from Attorney General Letitia James’ office, Tulley’s stores have been selling cannabis without a license since at least early 2022.  Locations in Auburn, Aurelius, Lyons, Macedon, Pulaski and Williamson were among those shut down Monday. Tulley also has a shop in Seneca Falls.  Tulley is accused of ignoring repeated notices from the state’s Office of Cannabis Management to stop selling without a license.  Investigators reported observing store clerks selling cannabis products to underage customers on multiple occasions.  James said Tulley, his companies and the building owners could face millions of dollars in fines.

A recent criminal complaint states that since January, in Western New York, there have been multiple reports of mail carriers being robbed, sometimes at gunpoint, for their keys to get into collection boxes.  The postal inspector said he was notified that someone used a key to open a mailbox at Tonawanda St in Buffalo on July 27th. Not long after, a customer service manager said that same person then rode to the Tops on Elmwood Avenue and took more mail. The inspector said that person used those keys to take greeting cards hoping they would have money in them.  Police then arrested Eric Arroyo in connection to this theft. He was charged with criminal possession of stolen property.  The inspector told reporters that there is not an increase in mail thefts in the area but the problem is a national issue.  He also said that Rochester has it worse.

A teenager in Rochester faces charges following a shooting that injured another teenager earlier this month.  Police responded to the Willie W. Lightfoot R-Center on Flint Street for a report of a shooting July 21. Officers found a 17-year-old boy who they said was shot in the area of Jefferson Avenue and Nellis Park before going to the center for help.  Police said the victim sustained serious, life-altering injuries.  U.S. Marshals arrested the suspected shooter, also a 17-year-old boy, Friday. He’s charged with assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He also had an outstanding family court warrant. He was taken to the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center.

The Genesee County Office For the Aging is looking for community input on how Bank Street could be made a better area for walking, biking and driving by changing the landscaping, crosswalk placements, and overall mobility of the area.  They will be having a pop-up demonstration between Main and Washington on August 18th from 10 to 2 with a rain date of August 21st.  Artists from GO ART! will paint vibrant and attractive crosswalks, and Batavia Turf has contributed turf that will enhance the visual appeal of the space.  They hope that the public will come out and be a part of revitalizing this space.

Damar Hamlin had his first day back in Buffalo Bills pads for practice at the Bills training camp at St John Fisher University on Monday. He said that he had been nervous about going back out after his heart attack last season but said “my strength is rooted in my faith and my faith is stronger than any fear.”  Hamlin said he’s still processing thousands of emotions, and he’s not afraid to admit that.  Monday was a huge step forward and a testament to Hamlin, the work he’s put in, and his medical team.