Officer Stabbed, Suspect Shot During Domestic Disturbance in Amherst, New York

 Officer Stabbed, Suspect Shot During Domestic Disturbance in Amherst, New York

On July 12, 2025, officers from the Amherst Police Department responded to what initially appeared to be a routine domestic disturbance call. However, within moments of arriving at the scene, the situation escalated dramatically, resulting in a police officer being stabbed and the suspect shot multiple times.

At approximately [insert time if known], dispatchers received a call regarding a domestic conflict at a residence in the 4800 block of North Bailey Avenue. Officers were immediately sent to the location to investigate. While en route, they were informed that the male subject involved in the incident, later identified as 26-year-old Rayquell Grant, had two active arrest warrants. These warrants raised concerns and prompted the officers to approach the situation with heightened caution.

The first to arrive on the scene were Lieutenant Matthew Lobuglio and Officer Aiden Vangelov. Following standard procedure, the officers attempted to make verbal contact with the suspect by calling out to him from outside the residence. They announced themselves and ordered Grant to exit the house peacefully.

Very shortly after the officers made their presence known, Grant unexpectedly climbed out of a rear window of the home, holding two knives—one in each hand. Without hesitation, he began charging directly toward Officer Vangelov. The sudden nature of the attack left the officers with only seconds to react.

Before Officer Vangelov could fully defend himself, Grant reached him and stabbed him in both the arm and shoulder. Despite his injuries, Vangelov remained standing. Lieutenant Lobuglio quickly attempted to subdue the attacker by deploying his department-issued Taser, a non-lethal weapon designed for situations just like this. Unfortunately, the Taser failed to incapacitate Grant, either due to a miss or equipment failure.

In the chaos of the moment, Officer Vangelov managed to kick Grant away, putting a brief distance between them. Now facing a deadly threat and with one officer already injured, both Lobuglio and Vangelov made the decision to use their service weapons. The officers collectively fired five shots, striking Grant in the side and elbow, effectively ending the assault.

According to the Amherst Police Department, the entire altercation—from the moment Grant exited the window to the use of deadly force—lasted just six seconds. The rapid sequence of events required the officers to make split-second decisions to protect their lives and those of others in the area.

Once the immediate threat was neutralized, both officers turned their attention to rendering aid to the suspect. They called for emergency medical services and retrieved first aid kits from their patrol vehicles. Within one minute, they were administering life-saving care to Grant, attempting to control the bleeding and stabilize him until paramedics arrived.

Officer Vangelov, despite being stabbed, was able to assist until medical crews arrived. He was then transported to a nearby hospital where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. He was later released and is expected to make a full recovery. Grant was also taken to the hospital, where he remains in serious condition as of the most recent update.

The Amherst Police Department has launched an internal review of the incident. As is standard protocol for any officer-involved shooting, the case will also be investigated by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether the use of force was justified and followed legal and departmental procedures.

This incident highlights the dangers that police officers face during domestic disturbance calls, which are often unpredictable and emotionally charged. The officers’ quick thinking and adherence to training may have prevented further injury or even loss of life.

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