BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Jamel Lane wants justice. He plans to press charges against a group of people who vandalized the Rees St. home where he lives.
Buffalo Police told News 4 they are investigating more than half a dozen members of the Buffalo State football team.
“I don’t feel safe at all,” said Lane. “Any day these kids could come back and do some more damage and who knows what they’re going to do next.”
Lane told News 4 he and his roommate were both getting ready for bed around 2:30 a.m. when they heard smashing noises downstairs.
“I see about 30 to 40 kids outside of my house, downstairs, breaking my downstairs windows, trying to provoke me to come downstairs to fight them,” said Lane. “I wasn’t about to go downstairs to fight.”
Vandals used golf clubs to damage four windows, according to police.
Sources told News 4 nine Buffalo State football players are now under investigation for the vandalism. Buffalo Police say they have arrested three football players in connection with the incident. Ryan Bauer, 20, Stephen Smaldone, 20, and Jordan Rychcik, 18, are charged with criminal mischief.
They were suspended from the team.
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Lane said he knows many of the people who showed up Sunday.
“Two weeks ago they came to my house for a little get together I was having for my friends birthday, and they caused problems and got into an altercation with me and my three other friends,” said Lane. “They jumped me and broke my thumb.”
Lane is now wearing a cast. He said he didn’t report that incident to police because he was trying to let it go.
Sources told News 4 the link between the two fights is now part of the investigation.
A neighbor who lives two doors down said just 45 minutes before the vandalism there was a crowd of women fighting in the street outside of his home. He told us these problems are not normal for Rees St.
“Occasionally we’ll get some commotion but this kind of violence I’ve never seen before,” said Brandon Brooks, a Rees St. resident.
Buffalo State Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Jerry Boyes released a statement that said, “I am extremely disappointed. The actions described in the Buffalo Police report do not reflect the values of our football program or the college. The student-athletes charged in this incident will be suspended from the team while the investigation continues. If found guilty, the student-athletes would be subject to additional discipline per team rules or removal from the program.”
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