City and Town cooperate to locate armed suspect

A City of Tonawanda clerk was forced to fight for his life when a man identified as a black male, standing six to six-foot-four-feet tall, wearing a dark blue shirt and jeans attacking him at gun point in the parking lot of Rent-A-Center, 798 Youngs Street, City of Tonawanda.

Just after 8 a.m. Monday morning, the clerk headed to his vehicle to grab some last minute things before opening the store, during which the attacker approached the clerk and attempted to force him to head back into the store.

The clerk, fearing what could happen next, fought back with the attacker and ended up wrestling on the gravel.

According to the clerk, the attacker took out a small black hand gun and began to pistol whip him with it. He recalled being hit approximately 10 times.

After the scuffle, the attacker fled the scene leaving the victim laying a pool of his own blood in the parking lot.

City of Tonawanda Police believe the attacker proceeded to head toward the gas station at the nearby Tops, where he stole a vehicle that was parked at the gas pump with the keys left in it.

“This incident is bothersome considering it took place in broad day light,” said Lt. Fred Foels of the City of Tonawanda Police Department.

The stolen vehicle was later found abandoned on Lorelee Drive, Town of Tonawanda.

Town of Tonawanda Police headed out with the K-9 Unit to find the suspect, in the event he was now traveling on foot. The Erie County Sheriff Department supplied their helicopter in order to aid in apprehending the suspect.

The suspect has yet to be located.

“We aren’t sure if he has an accomplice waiting for him at a specific location, or if he’s just laying low somewhere. But, we still haven’t found him.,” said Foels, “This was a robbery gone bad, luckily the clerk resisted to the point that the attacker gave up.”

The clerk was taken to ECMC for medical treatment. He sustained lacerations to his body and a shoulder wound.

The City of Tonawanda Police Department claims to have located some physical evidence left at the scene and witnesses have came forward to help catch the suspect.

The suspect is facing felony charges including robbery, assault in the second degree, possession of a weapon and menacing.

Anyone who has information that may help local law enforcement apprehend the suspect is asked to call The City of Tonawanda Police Department, at 692-2121.