Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Joel Coleman, 43, of Buffalo, was sentenced on Friday morning before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio to 25 years to life in prison.
On Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at approximately 5:15 a.m., the defendant intentionally caused the death of the victim by shooting him with an illegal gun. The crime occurred inside of the victim’s residence on the 400 block of Jefferson Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 34-year-old Nicholas D. Petroski, was shot once in the neck and died at the scene. During the commission of the crime, the defendant pointed the gun at a second victim, which placed the surviving victim in reasonable fear of physical injury.
In September 2024, a jury found Coleman guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony), one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony) and one count of Menacing in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor). Jurors rendered their decision after approximately three hours of deliberation following a two-week trial, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment.
A co-defendant was indicted for the assault of the second victim who was threatened by Coleman. Azaliyah A. Serrano, 24, of Kenmore pleaded guilty, as charged, to one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony). In July 2023, Serrano received a determinate sentence of two years in prison.
DA Keane commends Detective Mark White and Detective Scott Malec of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Eugene T. Partridge, III, of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Briana R.D. Kalman of the Narcotics/Intelligence Bureau.