Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Ronald T. O’Neil, 41, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony). The defendant entered a guilty plea to all counts in the indictment.
On Sunday, May 26, 2024, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the defendant intentionally fired an illegal gun at the victim multiple times on the 3100 block of Main Street near Winspear Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 42-year-old Darius R. Spates, Jr., suffered a gunshot wound to his back. He was taken in a private vehicle to ECMC where he was pronounced dead.
O’Neil faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Friday, August 8, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail.
DA Keane commends Detectives Scott Malec and Mark White of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher S. Safulko of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Kristen S. Fischer of the Felony Trials Bureau.