A man is being held without bail following the alleged shooting of a Tonawanda Police Detective and another man Tuesday morning.
Matthew Gerwitz, 28, was arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on two counts of attempted murder in the first degree, Class A-1 felonies, one count of attempted murder in the second degree, a Class B felony, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, Class C felonies.
The City of Tonawanda Police detective, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was hit by gunfire multiple times, according to the Erie County District Attorney’s office.
Sources have identified the wounded officer as Det. David Ljiljanich, a 19-year veteran of the force who served as a DARE officer in the school district among many roles within the department. He was taken to ECMC to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Gerwitz is scheduled to return on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was remanded without bail.
City of Tonawanda Police say it all started early Tuesday morning when a person was shot at home on Clinton and Morgan streets after some sort of confrontation. Officials say that individual is at ECMC and no condition was available.
Police say while they were investigating that shooting, they believe the suspect was trying to get back into his apartment just down the street.
Police then went to speak with that individual but he went inside.
They say that’s when the suspect opened fire from inside of the home, allegedly shooting Det. Ljiljanich multiple times.
Two of the bullets hit the officer’s vest. He was also shot in the leg, hip and buttock.
City of Tonawanda Police Captain Frederick Foels was at the scene and pulled that officer to safety behind his own police cruiser as he recounted the incident.
“We heard a commotion…we said, ‘Come down, we want to talk to you,’ and he said something like, 'I got to get my dog,' so right away something's not right here,” Foels recalls. “So we backed around. And then he comes flying down the stairs with his rifle just spraying us."
Foels said it was the first time in more than three decades on the force that he had been fired upon, pausing to collect his emotions as he thought about the wounded detective.
Following the incident, the suspect hopped into a silver Lexus and drove a couple blocks down Morgan Street before he was eventually rammed by City of Tonawanda police officers, according to police. He was quickly arrested.
Neighbors heard the commotion and woke up startled.
“I heard shots come from the front of the house,” said Amelia Eddy. “I thought it was just kids playing with fireworks. And then I mean I looked out the window and all I saw after that was the suspect on the ground and the cops just arresting him and it was went from there. It was a scary night.”
Police have not released the identity of the suspected shooter. The Erie County District Attorney's Office and the Erie County Sheriff's Office were still deciding on charges. The suspect is expected to be arraigned in a virtual court proceeding on Wednesday.