Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Walter M. Blaze, 57, of Collins, was arraigned yesterday before Brant Town Court Justice Jeffrey W. Gier on one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, one count of Assault in the First Degree (Class B violent felonies), one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class D violent felony), one count of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree (Class D felony) and one count of Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree (Class E felony).
It is alleged that on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at approximately 10:20 a.m., New York State Police Troopers responded to a shooting on Edgewood Drive in the Town of Collins. The defendant is accused of attempting to cause the death of the victim by intentionally shooting him with a shotgun. The victim, a 23-year-old male, was plowing snow outside of an apartment building at the time of the incident. It is also alleged that defendant’s conduct caused damage to the tractor operated by the victim. The victim was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was treated for injuries to his left arm and neck.
The defendant was taken into custody following a five-hour standoff with law enforcement. It is further alleged that prior to his arrest, the defendant intentionally fired a round from a firearm, which damaged a drone owned by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office…