BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Tonawanda man shot by the gunman who police say returned to the scene and opened fire on officers Tuesday morning has now died, his family tells 7 Eyewitness News.
Joseph Marasco, 32, passed away today at ECMC, where he had been in the intensive care unit.
Marasco was shot around 1 a.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of Morgan Street. Responding officers found him in the middle of the street. As they were tending to him, investigators say the shooter, Matthew Gerwitz, returned to the scene and opened fire on police with an AR-15. Detective David Ljiljanich was shot multiple times but survived.
Loved ones have set up a GoFundMe page to assist Marasco's family with funeral expenses. He leaves behind a 5 year-old daughter.
Gerwitz was arraigned Wednesday on two counts of attempted murder in the first degree in connection to the shots fired at police officers, one count of attempted murder in the second degree in connection to the shooting of Marasco, and two counts related to weapon possession.
Investigators are not commenting on what connection the suspect had to the victim or a possible motive for the shooting.
