On July 29, 2024, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation out of SP Buffalo arrested Dylan J. Cottingham, 26 of Sullivan, OH for Attempted Murder, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree, Reckless Endangerment 1st degree, Criminal Mischief 3rd degree and Menacing 2nd degree.
On July 29, 2024, at 7:43 A.M., Troopers out of SP Buffalo responded to a shots fired at an occupied tractor trailer while traveling on the I-90 westbound before exit 50. Troopers were dispatched to the area and while en-route they were notified of a second incident of a hit-and-run side swipe collision of a passenger car involving a tractor trailer suspected in the shooting on the I-90. NYSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit located and stopped the tractor trailer believed to be the vehicle involved in the shooting and the hit-and-run on Union Road near Walden Avenue in the town of Cheektowaga. The operator, Dylan J. Cottingham was taken into custody and a search warrant was obtained for his tractor trailer. After searching Cottingham’s vehicle, a semi-automatic .45 caliber handgun and multiple magazines were located.
Troopers responded to the location where the victim tractor trailer had pulled over near exit 50 on the New York State Thruway I-90 westbound. Investigation determined that the victim vehicle contained a female operator, a female passenger and a 10-year female child who was asleep in the sleeper cab of the truck. NYSP Forensic Identification Unit processed the vehicle and located multiple bullet holes including one near the sleeper birth within a very close proximity of the sleeping child.
Cottingham does possess a pistol permit for the State of Ohio.
Cottingham was arraigned at the town of Newstead Court and remanded at the Erie County Holding Center with no bail.
The NYSP Forensic Identification Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office assisted in this investigation.
Contact Troop A Public Information Officer: Trooper James O’Callaghan
