Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Niyonna E. Cunningham, 23, of Buffalo, was arraigned on Friday afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek on an indictment charging her with two counts of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “D” felonies) and two counts of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (Class “E” felonies under New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law).
It is alleged that on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at approximately 10:00 p.m., Buffalo Police officers responded to a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian near the intersection of Boehm Place and Bailey Avenue. The defendant was allegedly driving a Ford SUV while under the influence of alcohol with an infant inside of her vehicle when she hit a pedestrian. The victim, 62-year-old Madonna Bishop, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where she was pronounced dead.
The defendant was arraigned the following morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Shannon M. Heneghan. Prosecutors requested that the Court remand the defendant. She was released on bail set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.
At the arraignment on the indictment last week, prosecutors requested that the defendant be held without bail. Judge Wojtaszek continued the bail set in lower court. The defendant remains released under supervision.
Cunningham is scheduled to return on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. for a pre-trial conference. If convicted of the highest charge, she faces a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison.
DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Natasha G. Greenan and Chief Patrick B. Shanahan of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.