Amherst police release body camera footage in officer-involved shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Amherst Police have shared body camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred last weekend, showing a man jumping down from a house and stabbing an officer.

A reported domestic disturbance led to the shooting on the 4800 block of Bailey Avenue.

When police arrived to the home on Saturday evening, body cam footage shows them meeting with a woman who said the man -- later identified as 26-year-old Rayquell Grant -- was not supposed to be in the home. 

Amherst Police say they have dealt with Grant before and knew that he was known to leave through the back of the house. 

That’s when the responding officers canvassed the back of the home, where Grant can be seen jumping out of a back window, armed with a knife in each hand. 

"He was out the window and on the officer within two seconds -- and I think he said the officer maybe got one word out before he was stabbed," said Amherst Police Chief Scott Chamberlin.

Grant immediately charged at police, according to the body cam footage, which shows him stabbing Amherst Police Officer Aidan Vangelov twice -- once in the shoulder and once in the arm. 

That’s when both Officer Vangelov and the other responding officer, Lt. Matthew Lobuglio, allegedly opened fire on Grant. A taser was initially deployed but didn’t connect, and that’s when both officers opened fire, shooting Grant in his side and elbow. 

Grant remains in serious condition, while Officer Vangelov has been treated and released for his injuries and is going to be OK.

Chamberlin praised the officers' actions and their quick response time, saying from the time the suspect left the window to the time when police used force, all of it happened in a matter of six seconds.

“The person’s actions on that day left the officers with no choice but to defend themselves," Chamberlin said. "The officers were faced with an unprovoked, deadly, physical force incident, and they performed professionally under very difficult circumstances, and this department fully backs the actions that they took on that day and we’re proud of how they performed.” 

Officers immediately rendered first aid after Grant was shot. He and the injured officer were both taken to the hospital following the incident. 

Police would not comment on any pending charges. The investigation remains ongoing.