A longtime veteran of the upstate sheriff’s office was attacked and killed by an unruly patron early Sunday morning while on special duty at a local casino.
Thomas Sanfratello was killed while responding to the scene of a brawl inside the Batavia Downs casino and hotel, about 55 miles west of Rochester, Genesee County sheriff’s sergeant officials said.
Sanfratello, a 32-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, was working a special assignment detail at Batavia Downs when the fight broke out around 12:45 a.m. WHEC reported.
Authorities said casino and San Fratello security guards were escorting Michael Elmore, 33, and Lindsey Jean Wilcox, 39, from the building when Wilcox became combative. Ta.
Police said Sanfratello was able to overpower her and arrest her, but Elmore then attacked Sanfratello and other officers at the scene.
Sanfratello became unresponsive during the scuffle and officers performed CPR, but he died at the scene.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Sergeant Sanfratello’s family and everyone at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office during this extremely difficult time,” Batavia Police Chief Sean Heubush said in a statement.
The casino was evacuated and closed after the incident, but has since reopened. WIVB reported.
Mr. Sanfratello began his career with the sheriff’s office in 1992 as a dispatcher, becoming a deputy in 1996 and a sergeant in 2007.
The Batavia Police Department is working with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Genesee County District Attorney’s Office and Batavia Downs on the investigation into his death, officials said.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the fight or has video of it to contact the Batavia Police Department Detective Bureau at 585-345-6311.
