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Suspect dead after officer-involved shooting in Buffalo

Posted at 2:32 AM, Dec 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-13 00:14:42-05

A 47-year-old man is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Buffalo.

Buffalo Police have identified the man as Marcus Neal, of Buffalo.

Buffalo police said security from the Wegmans on Amherst Street reported a shoplifter at 11:20 p.m. Tuesday. An on-duty lieutenant who happened to be in the store was informed the suspect had ran.

Approximately eight minutes later, officers located the suspect across the street. They chased the suspect on foot to Gladstone Street.

Police said the suspect ran into a yard and climbed up onto a flat-roof garage. Multiple officers pursued him up there. 

Once up there, he produced a knife and refused multiple requests to drop the weapon, police said.

Then, the suspect charged the officers with the knife, and one of the officers opened fire, striking the suspect, police said.

Neal was transported to Erie County Medical Center and immediately put into surgery. He later died from his injuries. The officer, identified as 25-year-old Joseph Meli, was also taken to ECMC to be evaluated.

Buffalo police said its homicide unit, internal affairs division, Erie County District Attorney's office and New York State Attorney General's Office were all notified. Police did not know how many shots were fired.

This is the third Buffalo police involved shooting since July.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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