A Kenmore tavern owner was found murdered in his home Sunday morning. Police say 62-year-old Vincent "Jim" Cottone was discovered in his home around 11 a.m. Sunday at 21 Landers Road.
Investigators were at the scene all day Sunday and into the evening. At this point, authorities say it appears Cottone suffered blunt force injuries.
Cottone was the owner of Malone's Bar and Grill on Delaware Avenue in the Village of Kenmore, just a block away from his home.
Joseph Carriero, the owner of Marco's Italian Deli next door to Malone's, said he heard employees went to check on Cottone Sunday after he didn't show up for a meeting and found him dead.
“I’m more angry than anything else that somebody would kill such a nice guy. Jim, as far as I knew, didn’t have an enemy in the world. He was just a nice guy to everybody he met. I lost a friend …and I’m just angry,” said Carriero.
“Right now nobody’s actually saying anything. There’s just a lot of surprise that something like this would happen in Kenmore for one, and to a nice guy who was trying to make Kenmore a better place.”
Crime tape surrounded his home and Landers was closed to traffic on Sunday as investigators collected and removed evidence from Cottone's home with the help of the Erie County Central Police Services Forensic Laboratory.
WBFO spoke to neighbors who were stunned to hear the news, but wouldn't offer recorded comment.
Village of Kenmore police are leading the investigation. They told WBFO they have no updates on the case at this time.
The Erie County District Attorney is also assisting in the investigation.