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Tonawanda man arraigned for 1 murder, injuring 2 police officers

A City of Tonawanda man has been virtually arraigned in Erie County Court for killing one man and injuring two police officers.

The Erie County District Attorney's Office said Matthew Gerwitz, 28, has been accused of fatally shooting Joseph Marasco, 32, at Morgan and Clinton streets in Tonawanda with an illegal handgun in the early morning of May 26.

Gerwitz then allegedly fired shots from an illegal rifle at police from his Morgan Street apartment and wounded a detective multiple times. The detective was wearing a bulletproof vest and his injuries were not life threatening.

Gerwitz then allegedly fled in a vehicle and exchanged shots with police during a pursuit, which ended in a collision that injured a police lieutenant. More guns were allegedly recovered from the defendant's residence.

Gerwitz is charged with second degree murder, six counts of first degree attempted murder and five counts of criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 175 years to life in prison.

Mark Wozniak, WBFO's local All Things Considered host, has been at WBFO since mid-1978.
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