Thursday News Brief

Buffalo Police have released body cam footage of the fatal, officer-involved shooting that happened on Saturday. 58-year-old Edward Holmes was shot and killed by two Buffalo Police officers. Footage taken from the officers shows law enforcement arriving on scene to find Holmes with a shotgun. After officers told him to drop the weapon, Holmes is seen firing a round, prompting both officers to return fire with 20 rounds, striking him twice and later pronouncing him dead at the scene. Holmes himself had called 9-1-1, and referred to himself in the third person, saying there was a man on the street that would shoot if he were approached. Because of this, Buffalo Police have concluded it was a suicide-by-cop situation.

 

 

A former corrections officer has been sentenced to six months in the county jail and 10 years of post-release supervision, during which time he’ll be monitored. 42-year-old Jonathan Dejesus of Dunkirk apologized in Orleans County Court before being sentenced. Dejesus was convicted of rape and official misconduct; he admitted to having sexual intercourse with a female inmate at the Albion Correctional Facility in August 2022. Dejesus has a hearing on April 17th to determine if he will be on the sex offender registry and if so, at what level. He was already ordered to pay a $1,000 sex offender fine, $300 court surcharge and $25 crime victim’s fee.

 

A lockdown is now lifted at Saint John Fisher University following an attempted stabbing. Yesterday, a person entered the office of a staff member at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy building while armed with a knife. That employee was able to disarm the individual, who then ran away from the scene. Deputies are now reviewing footage in an attempt to identify the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to dial 911.

 

 

The man who brutally murdered a woman in Rochester last year has now found out his punishment for the crime. Yesterday, a judge sentenced Troy Parker to 25 years to life in prison for his role in the death of Fantasia Stone. During sentencing, the judge noted that this was one of the worst cases he had ever seen. Parker was found guilty last month of killing Stone by setting her on fire. Prosecutors believe Parker was motivated to carry out the homicide by drugs and money.

 

State lawmakers have voted to approve the new maps that will be used to determine New York’s Congressional districts. The new maps sailed through both the Senate and Assembly yesterday, and will replace the ones created by the bipartisan Independent Redistricting Commission. Democrats, who have the majority in both chambers, say they did not consider political data when coming up with these boundaries. Republicans aren’t planning to challenge the new maps, which have been approved by Governor Hochul.

 

Federal officials are recommending another COVID shot for adults’ age 65 and older. A CDC advisory committee met Wednesday and voted in favor of recommending an additional vaccine dose for seniors. Current federal guidelines recommend an additional COVID shot for people who are immuno-compromised. The CDC estimates about 23% of U.S. adults have gotten the updated vaccine.

 

Occasionally, the Rochester Amerks take the ice to celebrate inclusivity. And they did just that yesterday; they hosted the Syracuse Crunch for the team’s fourth-ever sensory-friendly game. Anyone who has been to a hockey game knows that it can get loud. From the music to the crowds to the loud goal horn, the atmosphere can be overwhelming for people with autism. So, the Amerks occasionally host these sensory-friendly nights, turning down the music levels, and turning off the goal horn and flashing lights. Amerks head coach Seth Appert says when he was a college coach; his team was one of the first to create a sensory-friendly night. It’s something he feels can bring all hockey families together. There’s also a sensory-friendly room at the Blue Cross Arena, where families can go to explore different calming toys and activities during events.

 

The Buffalo Bills are mourning the loss of former coach Chuck Dickerson. Dickerson recently passed away at the age of 86 after battling a short illness. He was the defensive line coach for the Bills from 1987 until 1991 and he worked under legendary head coach Marv Levy. A celebration of life will take place this weekend in Illinois. People who want to make a donation in Dickerson’s memory can send money to the Orphans of the Storm Shelter.

 

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on the ice tonight as they look to get back to their winning ways. The Sabres are set to take on their Eastern Conference rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning. On Tuesday, the Sabres were beaten by the Florida Panthers 3-2 and had their three-game winning streak snapped as a result. Face-off for this evening’s contest in Florida is scheduled for 7:00.

 

ELSEWHERE…

Comedian Richard Lewis is dead at the age of 76. Lewis died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack. Lewis revealed he had been living with Parkinson’s disease last year. He recently played a fictional version of himself on the hit series “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

 

 

Another concert has been added to the growing list of shows at the New York State Fair. Pop singer Sophie B. Hawkins is going to be on the Chevy Park stage on August 23rd as part of Pride Day. Hawkins is a New York native and Grammy nominee who recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of her debut album. There’s no cost to see this performance because it’s part of daily admission. The fair starts August 21st and runs through September 2nd.

 

The Food and Drug Administration says food packaging that contains harmful, long-lasting chemicals will no longer being sold in the U.S. Man-made chemicals called PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” don’t break down and have been associated with serious health risks. On Wednesday, the FDA announced food packages that contained these “forever chemicals” would no longer be sold nationwide. The FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods called the move a major win for public health.

 

Folks who are in the market for new vehicle should definitely check out an event in Rochester that begins today. The Rochester Auto Show is happening at the Floreano Convention Center through Sunday. There will be a variety of cars, SUVs and trucks on display and representatives will be on hand to help people find the perfect vehicle. For more information, head to therochesterautoshow.com.

 

 

Today is February 29th, an event that only happens once every four years. It’s leap day, an extra day added to the calendar every fourth February to keep our seasons from getting out of whack. Everyone knows a year is 365 days long but that’s not exactly accurate. It actually takes the Earth about 365 and one-quarter days to travel around the sun. To keep the extra time from throwing things off, the Romans decided a couple thousand years ago to add an extra day every four years. The Pope made some slight adjustments in the 1500s but Leap Years have stayed with us ever since.

 

On February 29, 1968, The Beatles’ album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” was awarded Album Of The Year at the tenth Grammy Awards. Having shipped over 32-million copies worldwide, the album is considered one of the most influential and famous rock albums of all time.