Buffalo Police officers expected to recover, suspect named

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WHEC) — We have new information on three Buffalo police officers who were shot in a pursuit that spanned roughly 40 minutes on Tuesday night.

Kente Bell, 28, a previously convicted felon, is said to be the main suspect in the incident and remains at ECMC in critical condition from several gunshot wounds. He was on probation for illegal possession of a firearm.

Bell is facing 3 counts of attempted murder in the first degree.

In a Wednesday news conference, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said that “it was a miracle that nobody died.” He also said that the way the suspect was shooting from the vehicle was with no regard for human life.

The pursuit happened at the foot of Bailey Avenue when the suspect fled the scene during a routine traffic stop. The motive behind this is still being investigated, Police say.

Police tell us that during the chase, someone inside of the suspect’s car let a person out of the car before firing at officers, hitting all three multiple times over the course of the pursuit. The person that left the vehicle early on in the pursuit was said to not be involved.

Officer Trevor Sheehan, 7 years on the force, was hit near Bailey Avenue in the left bicep and ear. He had a procedure and is expected to recover.

Officer Christopher Wilson, 4 years on the force, was wounded on the 1900 block of Genesee. He was hit in the chest but was luckily saved by wearing a bulletproof vest. He is expected to recover.

The third officer, Joseph McCarthy, 5 years on the force, was hit during the end of the pursuit near Bailey and Fillmore and sustained a bullet wound to the abdomen. He is still at ECMC but is expected to recover.

The chase went all the way to West Seneca and back to the city of Buffalo, where the suspect was shot and taken into custody.

During the press conference, Police commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said that 10 vehicles are being held as evidence, including 9 damaged police cars, and there were 19 different crime scenes that resulted from this incident.

All three officers wounded are expected to make a full recovery.

Watch the full update in the video in the player below (mobile users, click here):