BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A protest march through the City of Buffalo took a violent turn Monday night.
According to New York State Police around 10:00pm, a 2002 Ford Explorer, traveling northbound in the southbound lane at Bailey Avenue and Decker Street failed to stop for a law enforcement blockade. Troopers say the SUV plowed through the blockade, hitting a Trooper and a Buffalo Police Officer, it then ran over another Trooper that was on the ground. That's when investigators say Troopers fired shots at the vehicle.
The SUV was stopped and both the driver and passengers were taken into custody. Police say the driver and one of the passengers had a gunshot wound, a third passenger was not injured. The driver and passenger with injuries were both taken to the Erie County Medical Center (ECMC), they are expected to survive.
Tuesday afternoon NYSP identified the troopers that were struck. Ronald L. Ensminger Jr. a 19-year member of the NYSP suffered a shattered pelvis and broken leg and Randall A. Shenefiel a 17-year member of the NYSP suffered a hand/wrist injury. The Buffalo Police Officer has not been identified but was reported to have suffered minor injuries.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday afternoon two passengers of the vehicle, 25-year-old Semaj T. Pigram and 28-year-old Walter B. Stewart, Jr. both of Buffalo, are facing charges related to the incident.
The district attorney's office says Pigram and Stewart each face one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree after a loaded handgun reported stolen from West Seneca in January 2020 was allegedly recovered from the vehicle.
Police have not identified the female driver, she remains at ECMC and no charges have been filed, the investigation is ongoing.
