A New Yorker who broke into a school during a winter blizzard to find shelter for himself and 24 others who were stranded outside has been publically recognized by police for his good deed.
The man, identified as “Jay,” was caught on security camera breaking into Pine Hill School in Buffalo during a storm on Dec. 23. A key holder at the school received an alert that a window had been smashed, but owing to the severe weather it was some time before police could investigate.
When an officer from Cheektowaga Police Department (CPD) did arrive at the school, they found the building empty and seemingly undisturbed with a handwritten note left on a table.
“We watched the video surveillance and witnessed people taking care of people,” they said. “There was a freezer full of food but no one touched it. They only ate what was necessary to stay alive. They used the gym for the kids to play and pulled the smart boards out of the classrooms to watch the news for updates.”
He and two strangers had slept inside his truck the night before the break-in, “just trying not to die,” the note read. Then realizing there were others in need of shelter, including seven elderly people stuck without fuel, he apparently rallied the group together. “I had to do it to save everyone and get them shelter and food and a bathroom,” he wrote, before signing off, “Merry Christmas, Jay.”
Before leaving the premises, they plugged the smart boards back in and cleaned the tables and everything else they had used. The only trace left of their being there was the broken window, though CPD stated they are not pressing charges.
They were interested in identifying “Jay,” though, in order to thank him for “going above and beyond” to help save lives. They asked netizens to help find the man in the footage.
Days later, friends and family reached out, and “Jay” was revealed to be Jay Withey, 27, a mechanic from Kenmore.
“Jay said they are all now like family and planning a summer get-together,” CPD said.
