Buffalo Police Release 911 Calls & Body Cam Footage From Minnesota Ave Shooting

The last few days have been quite busy for the Buffalo Police Department. Especially in the aftermath of an officer-involved shooting that happened this past Thursday, on March 5, 2026, in Buffalo's University Heights neighborhood.

In a press conference that happened on Thursday, March 12, 2026, Interim Commissioner of the Buffalo Police Department Craig Macy went over various facts that have come to light since the altercations that led to the shooting happened a week ago.

911 Call and Body Cam Footage Shows Dangerous Situation

58-year-old Charles Butler is in the middle of what several people, according to the 911 calls, considered to be a serious mental health crisis.

When police arrived on scene at the house on Minnesota Ave near Cordova Ave, there were several people allegedly being held at knifepoint, including at least three paramedics from AMR.

According to WIVB-TV, which reviews documents that were released by the Buffalo Police Department, Butler had an extensive criminal history, including violent crimes like armed robbery and rape from Minnesota, Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland.

While officers receive mental health training, it seems the scene in Buffalo's University District was beyond the help of any officers who would have arrived on site.

As with all police related incidents that lead to the death of someone, this shooting will be investigated by the New York State Attorney General’s Office Special Investigations. This has been a legal requirement in the Empire State since 2021.

You can listen to the calls that were made to 911 and watch the footage from all of the officers' body cameras on the scene below.