BUFFALO, NY – A harrowing scene unfolded in Buffalo as bodycam footage captured the moment a police officer, clinging to a speeding vehicle, shot and killed a suspect while a young child screamed in the front seat.
The video, released on Thursday by the Buffalo Police Department, documents Officer Ronald Ammerman’s attempt to pull over 25-year-old Dae’von Roberts for speeding. The situation quickly escalated when Roberts attempted to flee, with Ammerman desperately holding onto the car.
In the footage, Ammerman is heard pleading with Roberts, “You’re gonna kill me, bro,” as a 6-year-old boy in the passenger seat cried out in fear. The officer, holding onto the vehicle for approximately 20 seconds, eventually fired several shots, causing both men to fall to the ground.
“Shots fired! There’s a kid in the car still. He tried killing me,” Ammerman communicated through his radio. He then checked on the child, who was unharmed, and stayed with him until additional officers arrived. Roberts was later declared dead at a hospital, and a loaded handgun was found in the car.
Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia supported Ammerman’s actions, asserting that the officer’s use of force was justified given the immediate threat to his life. “In situations where an officer faces serious injury or death, such force is legally justified,” Gramaglia said during a press conference. He highlighted the unpredictability of real-life scenarios compared to training exercises.
Initially, the traffic stop seemed routine, with Ammerman addressing the vehicle’s speed and tinted windows. Roberts, who identified the child as his “little cousin” and “nephew,” presented an out-of-state ID, which was later found to be invalid. As Ammerman prepared to conduct a further investigation, Roberts sped off, leading to the fatal encounter.
Roberts had prior legal issues, including charges from a shots-fired incident at a memorial earlier in the year. Both Ammerman and Officer Jonathan Crawford, who was also on scene, have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy.
Gramaglia noted the psychological impact on the officers, stating, “They’re gonna need time to process this. Returning to work immediately after such an incident is not feasible.”