A Tournament Stopped in Its Tracks
A basketball tournament that was slated to open in Buffalo was halted before it could get underway, after authorities intervened following a violent clash at a similar gathering in Niagara Falls the weekend before.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Erika Shields explained that the event had not been granted a permit, citing public safety concerns after the earlier disturbance.
The organizer, D'Vontay Friga, a social‑media personality with more than half a million Instagram followers, said he understood the police action and was grateful for the department’s effort to keep the community safe.
After being turned away from Rees Park, the organizers moved the competition to a gym on Bryant and Stratton Way, where the games proceeded under a more restricted schedule.
Friga later thanked the police for their vigilance and pledged to tighten safety measures for future tournaments, hoping to restore confidence among participants and spectators.