Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Richard J. Walls, 44, of Cheektowaga, was arraigned this afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony).
It is alleged that on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Cheektowaga Police responded to the 100 block of Cedar Road for a reported shooting. Officers attempted to perform life-saving measures before the victim was taken by ambulance to ECMC. The victim, 20-year-old Md Rawnaq Hassan Ratin, was pronounced dead at the hospital. The defendant is accused of intentionally shooting the victim in the chest with a handgun during a dispute over parking on the street.
Walls was held without bail. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time. If convicted of the charge, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
DA Keane commends Lieutenant Justin Haag and Officer Andrii Zvarych of the Cheektowaga Police Department for their work in this investigation as well as Detective Christopher Schafer of the Buffalo Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Justin H. Caldwell of the Homicide Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.