The death of a 61-year-old Buffalo man found this morning on the sidewalk on Oak and Sycamore streets has been ruled as a suicide.
Authorities initially believed the man was homeless, but further investigation determined he resided in North Buffalo. Homicide detectives, who were called to the scene, said he had entered an empty two-story building at 256 Oak St., where he stabbed and slashed himself several times before jumping from the roof to the sidewalk, some 20 feet below.
Police received a 911 call at 6:30 a.m. and cordoned off the area, including a section of one of the three lanes of Oak, in order to process the scene when it was still unknown how the man died. As a result, motorists were slowed on their way into downtown during the morning rush hour.
The Erie County Medical Examiner’s office ruled the death a suicide, according to police spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge.
Bob Hewitt, who works at a nearby business, said the structure from which the man jumped had formerly housed Winters Sign Co. for many years.
“The building recently changed hands and is unoccupied,” Hewitt said.
email: lmichel@buffnews.com
Authorities initially believed the man was homeless, but further investigation determined he resided in North Buffalo. Homicide detectives, who were called to the scene, said he had entered an empty two-story building at 256 Oak St., where he stabbed and slashed himself several times before jumping from the roof to the sidewalk, some 20 feet below.
Police received a 911 call at 6:30 a.m. and cordoned off the area, including a section of one of the three lanes of Oak, in order to process the scene when it was still unknown how the man died. As a result, motorists were slowed on their way into downtown during the morning rush hour.
The Erie County Medical Examiner’s office ruled the death a suicide, according to police spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge.
Bob Hewitt, who works at a nearby business, said the structure from which the man jumped had formerly housed Winters Sign Co. for many years.
“The building recently changed hands and is unoccupied,” Hewitt said.
email: lmichel@buffnews.com