As we begin our 25 for 25 series looking back at some of the year’s biggest headlines, sentencing in a decade-old murder case, the surprising suspension of Frewsburg Central School officials and an officer-involved shooting in Mina were among the stories that drew readers’ attention this year.

Today, we focus on the year’s breaking news stories.

SHOCKING SHOOTING

A 66-year-old man has been killed by a Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputy after an exchange of gunfire after officers responded to a domestic incident in June in the town of Mina. Deputies responding to a domestic incident at 2900 Mina French Creek Road encountered an armed man who was outside the residence with a shotgun. One round from the shotgun was fired. The man then allegedly pointed the weapon at a deputy several times. The deputy gave several verbal commands to put the weapon down which were all refused. There were several rounds fired in which one deputy suffered non-life-threatening wounds to his hands and Bemis was also struck by rounds fired by the deputies.

Law enforcement, including the FBI, are pictured in July 2015 in Warren County. P-J file photo

“I think it impacts the whole community,” Quattrone said. “This is a tight-knit community out in this area of the county. Nobody wants to see anybody’s life taken. The emotional effect on everyone involved takes a toll. We are making sure that our officers are cared for, we will be working with the fire service. Generally we will have critical incident debriefing offered to those who responded to the scene. We want to make sure everybody is taken care of.”

PRISON SENTENCE ANNOUNCED

A Jamestown man was sentenced to prison after assisting in a murder that took place more than a decade ago. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that 43-year-old Matthew Rudy, who was convicted of accessory after the fact, was sentenced to serve five years in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler and Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the case, stated that on May 27, 2014, Anthony Neubauer kidnapped Joseph Anthony and traveled from Jamestown to property in Pennsylvania owned by Rudy. Neubauer tricked Anthony into traveling by offering him cocaine.

After arriving in Pennsylvania, Neubauer and Rudy told Anthony they did not have any cocaine, before shooting and killing him, and then burying him on Rudy’s property. Neubauer and Rudy took Anthony to Pennsylvania because they believed he was a cooperator.

Emergency responders are pictured at the scene of an officer-involved shooting Wednesday on French Creek-Mina Road.

On May 27, 2014, Anthony was last seen at the Dash Inn on the 700 block of East Second Street in Jamestown. Then 43 years old, Anthony reportedly left all his belongings at his Broadhead Avenue residence. Numerous searches for the city resident were conducted following his disappearance.

In late June 2015, the FBI executed a federal search warrant in Chandlers Valley, located south of Sugar Grove. Law enforcement from New York and Pennsylvania also descended on Warren County. Federal agents became involved in the case due to the investigation potentially crossing state lines, Jamestown police said at the time.

VANDALISM CHARGES AGAINST VILLAGE OFFICIAL

While not as serious a charge as some that were announced this year, readers were intrigued by the latest incident in a longstanding feud between a Cassadaga official and Valley Outdoors owner Adam Diate. Sam Alaimo, the village’s public works superintendent, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, criminal tampering and trespass after sheriff’s deputies responded to a complaint regarding an incident that occurred June 6 at Valley Outdoors in the village of Cassadaga. After an investigation, Alaimo was identified and charged.

Diate addressed the Village Board five nights after the incident occurred at the latest Board meeting.

“He has targeted me in the past,” Diate said of Alaimo. Diate stated he plans to seek an order of protection against Alaimo to keep him away from Diate’s property.

In 2024 tensions between the village and Diate reached a boiling point, as Diate went back and forth with the Village Board and Alaimo for more than 30 minutes during the public comment portion of the meeting. Diate had been feuding with the village regarding cement blocks that were located on his property, the Valley Outdoors store located on Route 60 in the heart of the village. Diate wanted the village to remove the blocks, while the Village initially placed them at the site to protect a fire hydrant.

Diate pressed the village for documentation of the purchase of the blocks in the first place, which the village was unable to provide at the time. In the time since, Village Board members Cathy Cruver and Danna DuBois have continually asked for more transparency with purchases from Alaimo and other employees.

CITY MAN CHARGED AFTER THEFT

July brought news that a Jamestown man had been charged with first-degree grand larceny after allegedly stealing more than $1 million from his employer.

Paul A. Weinstein, 60, of Jamestown was charged Monday by city police officers at Ben Weitsman of Jamestown, 610 W. Eighth St., Jamestown, after an investigation by Jamestown police and the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office. According to a police report, Weinstein was allegedly involved in a long-term, ongoing theft spanning more than 10 years from Ben Weitsman of Jamestown. Police allege Weinstein has stolen more than $1 million and possibly several million dollars more.

Weinstein was arraigned in Jamestown City Court and held on $50,000 cash or $100,000 property bond.

Originally the Weinstein Company, Paul Weinstein, the company’s fourth generation owner, sold Weinstein’s to Ben Weitsman of Jamestown in 2010 after being family owned and operated for more than 100 years. Weinstein told The Post-Journal selling was the right thing to do to be involved with a growing company like Ben Weitsman of Jamestown. Weitsman kept Weinstein as the local company’s vice president.

MATAR SENTENCED IN INSTITUTION STABBING

A chapter in a notorious story in Chautauqua County history has come to a close. In August of 2022, 24-year-old Hadi Matar traveled from New Jersey, entered Chautauqua Institution, and stabbed world-renowned author Salman Rushdie multiple times, nearly killing him. Three years later, Matar still didn’t seem to have any remorse about the attack. With that in mind, Chautauqua County Court Judge David Foley sentenced Matar to the maximum 25 years behind bars, plus five years post supervision for the guilty verdict of attempted murder.

Rushdie and Henry Reece were in the process of giving a presentation at the Institution in 2022 when Matar jumped on stage and began stabbing Rushdie multiple times, including his eye, liver and neck. Following the attack Rushdie was on a ventilator for several days. To this day Rushdie no longer has use of his right eye and wears a patch over it.

“I believe in freedom of speech but I believe in respect and respect of others is also important,” Matar said Friday.

After Matar spoke, Foley said he disagreed with what he said.

“You may not respect Mr. Rushdie’s point of view or how he’s lived his life, but in the United States of America we have the right to live the life that we choose, and he has the right to express his views in the same way you have the right to express your views,” he said directly to Matar.

Public Defender Nathan Barone asked the court to consider a lesser sentence, noting that Matar has never been arrested before.

Foley, however, said he would have concerns about giving Matar a sentence less than the maximum.

“I don’t disrespect your position regarding religion or in regards to who you respect or disrespect, but what prevents you from getting out and doing this again to Mr. Rushdie or doing it to someone else that you think is being disrespectful?” he asked.

Matar is facing federal charges, including attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization; engaging in an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries; and providing material support to terrorists.

Barone will be representing Matar on the federal charges as well.

He said there’s a court appearance in July. He said it’s possible they will go to trial late this year, but more likely it will happen in 2026.