Police are searching for a man who broke into a Buffalo-area school on December 23, not to charge him with any crime, but to thank him for his selfless actions that likely saved several lives and two dogs during the brutal winter storm of the last week.
The man, whom police call “Merry Christmas Jay,” left a note explaining that he broke a window Friday night so he could drive several people to the Pine Hill School in the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga.
“I’m so sorry I broke the school window [and] for breaking into the kitchen,” the note reads.
“I got stuck at 8pm on Friday and slept in my truck with two strangers. I was just trying not to die. There were 7 elderly people also stuck and out of fuel. I had to do it to save everyone and get them shelter, food and a bathroom .”
Police want to thank a man who broke into a Buffalo-area school to save several people during last week’s brutal winter storm.
(Cheektowaga Police Department)
The man left a note explaining why he broke into the school and signed it: “Merry Christmas, Jay.”
(Cheektowaga Police Department)
A key keeper at the school had received an alarm about a burglary Friday night, but police were unable to respond immediately due to deteriorating weather.
DEATH TOLL IN WESTERN NY CONTINUES TO RISE AS WINTER STORM ADVANCES
When an officer finally arrived at the school later that weekend, he found the “Merry Christmas, Jay” note.
People took shelter from the storm inside Pine Hill School this past Friday and Saturday.
(Cheektowaga Police Department)
The group ate from the kitchen and used the gym for their children to play in, then cleaned up before leaving, police said.
(Cheektowaga Police Department)
When the Cheektowaga Police Department pulled surveillance footage from inside the school, “they witnessed people caring for people.”
“There was a freezer full of food, but no one touched it. They only ate what was necessary to stay alive. They used the gym for the kids to play and took the smart boards out of the classrooms to check the news for updates.” said the Cheektowaga Police Department.
“They had 2 dogs that they were tending to as well. When they were finally able to leave safely, you would never have known someone was there.”
Strong wind blows snow across a Buffalo, New York neighborhood on Saturday, December 24, 2022.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson)
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At least 39 people died from the winter storm that hit Buffalo on Friday and Saturday.
The National Guard was going door-to-door in New York’s second-largest city Thursday as authorities warned more bodies could be found.
