Buffalo, NY – Authorities announced that no charges will be filed against a Buffalo police officer who fatally shot a 29-year-old man during a tense traffic stop last summer. The incident, which occurred on July 10, 2024, involved Daevon Roberts, who was pulled over for speeding with a 6-year-old child unsecured in the back seat.
According to investigators, the stop began as a routine traffic enforcement action but escalated when officers attempted to verify Roberts’ driver’s license. When instructed to exit the vehicle, Roberts initially refused. Body-worn camera footage shows officers opening his door and again asking him to step out. Instead, Roberts shifted the car into drive, causing the vehicle to lurch forward while dragging one of the officers alongside it.
During the struggle, the officer can be heard on camera shouting, “You’re gonna kll me, bro,”* as Roberts allegedly reached toward a firearm inside the vehicle. In response, the officer discharged his weapon, striking Roberts.
Emergency responders rushed Roberts to a nearby hospital, but despite life-saving efforts, he was later pronounced dead. The child inside the vehicle was unharmed but was visibly distressed following the incident.
After a comprehensive review that included body camera footage, witness accounts, and forensic evidence, prosecutors determined the officer’s actions were legally justified. They concluded that the officer had been in immediate danger of serious injury or death, given that he was being dragged by the moving vehicle and that Roberts had reached for a weapon.
The Buffalo Police Department expressed relief that the child was not physically harmed during the incident but acknowledged the traumatic impact the event may have had. Officials also reiterated the importance of compliance during traffic stops to avoid tragic outcomes.
Community reaction has been mixed. While some residents say the officer’s use of force was clearly necessary under the circumstances, others have called for further discussions about policing tactics, traffic enforcement, and ways to prevent situations from escalating to deadly force—especially when children are present.
Roberts’ death adds to ongoing conversations both locally and nationally about officer-involved shootings and the split-second decisions law enforcement officers face when confronted with life-threatening situations.
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