NY Firefighter Charged in Fatal Off-Duty Shooting
By Aaron Besecker
Source The Buffalo News, N.Y.
A New York firefighter is accused of fatally shooting a man during an off-duty dispute Tuesday.
Blake Banks, a probationary Buffalo firefighter, was charged with second-degree murder during a hearing Wednesday stemming from the incident, The Buffalo News reports. He was ordered held without bail, and his next court appearing is Aug. 4.
According to authorities, Banks, 24, shot a 40-year-old man during an argument at around 1 p.m. Tuesday. The victim tried to flee in his vehicle following the shooting, but he eventually crashed nearby and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
A city spokesman told the News that officials are seeking to fire Banks from the department. He has been with the department since February 2020.
