Illinois Man Accused of Attempted Child Abduction at Buffalo School

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A 30-year-old man from Illinois is facing multiple charges after attempting to abduct a child from a Buffalo school earlier this year. The incident has prompted both legal action and scrutiny from the community over school security measures.

Shane Cronin, of Lombard, Illinois, was arraigned Wednesday on charges including attempted kidnapping, attempted assault, burglary, and endangering the welfare of a child. He entered a plea of not guilty and is being held without bail according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office.

The incident occurred on February 11th at Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet School, which shares a building with the Buffalo Museum of Science. Prosecutors say Cronin entered the school without authorization and attempted to engage with two children inside the building. Authorities allege he attempted to lure one of them away before being confronted by a staff member.

When the school employee intervened and instructed Cronin to leave, he punched her and knocked her to the ground. A security officer then stepped in resulting in Cronin fleeing the scene. He was apprehended shortly after by law enforcement near the school premises.

Cronin’s defense attorney, Daniel DuBois, suggested his client may have been experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the incident. He stated that Cronin initially entered the museum legally and then somehow accessed the school through an internal connection. DuBois noted that no weapons or tools were found on Cronin or in his vehicle, which police searched following his arrest.

“From what we know, the staff responded appropriately when they encountered an unauthorized individual inside the school,” DuBois said.

Despite this, the breach has raised concerns over how Cronin was able to enter a facility housing students in grades three through eight. The Buffalo Public School District has yet to publicly address the specifics of how he gained entry or what, if any, security protocols failed during the incident.

In the wake of the event, the Buffalo Board of Education has initiated an independent review. This move came after a Buffalo police detective publicly discussed the case on a podcast and suggested district officials may have attempted to suppress details of the incident. District Attorney Michael Keane acknowledged the detective’s remarks and confirmed an ongoing investigation.

“We are thoroughly investigating the facts while ensuring accountability and justice,” Keane said. “Our priority is the safety of children and the integrity of the judicial process.”

No trial date has been set and the investigation remains active.

Illinois Man Accused of Attempted Child Abduction at Buffalo School