HEARTLESS
Looters raid stores closed by devastating Christmas storm that left 50 dead and millions without power
CRUEL looters have ransacked stores that were closed during the devastating Christmas storm that left at least 50 dead nationwide and millions without power.
As the city of Buffalo grapples with the aftermath of the weekend arctic blast, crooks took advantage of the empty streets where snowfall and blizzard conditions made roads impassable.
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Video shared on social media allegedly shows a pair of thieves exiting a store in the middle of the brutal winter night.
Moments later, the woman behind the video seems to capture what appears as gunshots as people on the street run for cover on the snow-filled sidewalks.
It's unclear where in Buffalo the video was taken, but New York State Police confirmed they were responding to claims across social media about looting across the city.
Police confirmed to WGRZ about two confirmed looting incidents. However, it's unclear if anyone was arrested.
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"We have had two confirmed reports of looting incidents where law enforcement has been dispatched and responded," Steven A. Nigrelli, the New York State Police Superintendent, told the outlet.
"Those are still under investigation as we speak. Those are isolated incidents, and it's not reflective of the great community of Western New York, and I'm sure that they'll be limited to those two incidents, or at least that's our hope."
A viewer sent the outlet videos that appeared to show several businesses with smashed windows. Another video showed a looted 7-11 store.
BUFFALO CRIPPLED
In Buffalo alone, at least 28.1 inches of snow reportedly fell.
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The death toll as of Monday morning has risen to 17, officials confirmed, as tens of thousands of residents across the city remain without power.
Some victims were found frozen to death in their cars, while a 56-year-old father was found dead on the streets.
William "Romello" Clay vanished during the snowstorm on Friday after leaving his home to go to the store, his loved ones told the Daily Mail.
A day later, a video emerged of a dead man lying face down in the snow - who was later identified as Clay.
Clay's son Jules, who goes by Cadean, took to Facebook to pay tribute to his dad.
"This pain is overwhelming. I can't stop crying. Grateful I spoke to him and told him I love him yesterday," he wrote.
One friend wrote that Clay "lost his life during the blizzard on his birthday."
A distressing post that a relative wrote while Clay was missing indicated that he "may not be on his medication."
However, there is no further information on any medicine that Clay might've been taking.
Clay's cause of death remains unclear and police are still trying to retrieve his body in blizzard conditions.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the storm an “epic, once-in-a-lifetime storm” that made it impossible for emergency services and even plow trucks to travel.
“It was a blinding snowstorm,” she said.
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Meanwhile, the number of storm-related deaths could continue climbing, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said.
“We do believe, based on reports we’re getting from the field, we are going to get a number — hopefully not a significant number — but a number of additionally confirmed deaths in the next six hours because of bodies that have been found but have not yet been transported to hospitals for identification and confirmation of death,” Poloncarz said.
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