Morning News Brief

Police are still investigating why a man from near Niagara Falls rammed a police vehicle and then proceeded to light it on fire Saturday night.  The incident happened just before 5 a.m. on Mapleton and Shawnee roads in the Town of Wheatfield.  According to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was patrolling Mapleton Road when a pick-up truck traveling in the opposite direction swerved into the deputy’s lane and struck the patrol vehicle head-on.  The sheriff’s office says a man, identified as 52 year old Shuyler Johnson, exited the truck and ignored verbal commands from the deputy.  Johnson allegedly poured gasoline onto the patrol vehicle, ignited it and fled the scene in the truck.  A Niagara County Sheriff’s Captain found the truck flipped over on Shawnee Road later on and at this point Johnson allegedly approached the captain with a drawn knife and was tased unsuccessfully and then surrendered after being pepper sprayed.  He is being charged with arson, menacing a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving and multiple VTL violations.

The Kenmore Police Department is investigating a shooting that sent a 23-year-old Buffalo man to the hospital on Christmas Day.  Police said the shooting happened Monday at approximately 1 p.m. outside Sam’s Shop & Deli on Kenmore Avenue. Police said an “unknown” shooter walked up to a group that had just left the store when shots were fired. Police said the suspect then fled, and was last seen crossing Kenmore Avenue.  According to police, the 23-year-old victim was taken by ambulance to ECMC, and is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Rochester police are searching for suspects after a man was shot in the city’s north side Christmas day.  Officers say around 3 p.m., they were called to Avenue A for two people shot but they did not find any victims when they arrived.  During the investigation, a 34-year-old man who had been shot walked into Rochester General Hospital.  Police say his injuries are non-life threatening.  There are no suspects in custody.

Rochester police are investigating a fatal shooting on the city’s northside Sunday morning.  Around 8:30 a.m., officers responded to the 300 block of Murray Street for a report of a person with a gun.  Once there, the officers located the suspect who was described by the 911 call.  The suspect fled on foot with an officer giving chase. Later during the chase, the suspect allegedly displayed what appeared to be a gun. That’s when the officer fired his gun at least four to five times, striking the suspect at least once in the upper body.  Officers said the man was a city resident in his 40’s and he was transported to Strong Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police also said no officers were injured during the incident.

Gas Price Update: Drivers will see prices a little higher at the pump this week thanks to an increase in demand over the Christmas holiday weekend.  The national average rose 6 cents from 3.06 to 3.12 this week.  In Western NY we are bucking the trend by continuing to have lower prices with a gallon of regular going for 3.42 after all discounts in Batavia.  This is down 5 cents from a week ago and 20 cents from last month.  The New York average is 3.38 which is down 3 cents from last week.  Experts predict that the prices will fluctuate for the next month or so before climbing again in February.  

Josh Allen ran for 2 touchdowns and threw one in the Bills 24-22 victory over the LA Chargers on Saturday.  It came down almost to the last second with the Bills trailing the Chargers through the 2 minute warning and then getting a field goal at 28 seconds left in the game to come out on top.  Allen became the first player in NFL history with four consecutive seasons of 40 combined touchdowns and the second quarterback to reach 50 career rushing scores.  The Bills are now 9 and 6 and are looking at their odds for the playoffs.  They will be back on their home field to play the Patriots on Sunday.