Buffalo Police Release Video of Officer-Involved Shooting of Woman Who Stabbed Man In the Head
What to Know
- Officers responded to an 'unknown trouble' call on Donovan Drive involving a woman with a knife.
- Despite repeated commands and de-escalation efforts, the woman attacked a man, prompting police to use pepper spray and then fire their weapon.
- Both the woman and the man sustained non-life-threatening injuries and received medical treatment at Erie County Medical Center.
BUFFALO, New York -- The Buffalo Police Department has released body-worn camera video from a September 2025 officer-involved shooting
Police said officers responded to an “unknown trouble” call on Donovan Drive on Sept. 27, and encountered a woman who was allegedly armed with a knife and acting aggressively, according to a WKBW-TV.
The officers attempted to de-escalate the encounter and repeatedly ordered the woman to drop the knife, but she allegedly did not comply.
Police said an officer deployed pepper spray as the woman approached a group of people while allegedly pointing the knife at them. According to police, the woman continued advancing and stabbed a man in the head. An officer then discharged their weapon, striking the woman in the shoulder.
According to police, responding Buffalo police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel rendered first aid at the scene. Police said both the man and the woman were transported to Erie County Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said the woman, identified as 38-year-old Cynthia Gilbert, was arraigned on an indictment charging her with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree attempted assault.
Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane addressed the case in October 2025 and said his office determined the officer’s use of force was justified.
“Our office has determined that the officer’s use of force was justified,” Keane said in October. “Police officers showed extraordinary calm, restraint, patience, and professionalism in this situation, and quite frankly, the determination that their use of force was justified was not a difficult one. They tried to de-escalate a very tense situation. Unfortunately, they were unable to do so.”
Police said the body camera video has been made publicly available and includes graphic images and strong language.