Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 40-year-old Christopher L. Busby pleaded guilty this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the sole count in the indictment ahead of his jury trial, which was scheduled to begin next week.
On Saturday, December 17, 2022, at approximately 10:00 p.m., the defendant, while acting in concert with Lewis Keys and Daiquan Busby, assaulted the victim inside of an apartment building on the 100 block of Rodney Street in the City of Buffalo. The victim was repeatedly punched, kicked and dragged down the stairs from the apartment to the sidewalk.
The victim, 25-year-old Mikhail C. Scott, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he died from his injuries. The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the manner of death was homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the head.
Busby faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Monday, August 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Prosecutors requested that the defendant be remanded pending sentence. Busby continues to be released on bail set at $300,000 cash or bond.
Last month, 21-year-old Daiquan A. Busby of Buffalo pleaded guilty, as charged, to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree. Daiquan Busby, who is the son of Christopher Busby, also faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Monday, August 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. He also remains released on previously posted bail set at $300,000 cash or bond.
Their co-defendant, 24-year-old Lewis A. Keys of Buffalo, also pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree for his involvement in the fatal assault. The defendant pleaded guilty to the only count in the indictment against him on May 23, 2023. Keys is currently serving a determinate sentence of 8 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.
Acting DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan M. Flaherty of the Felony Trials Bureau, Chief Cathleen M. Roemer of the Buffalo City Court Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Rebecca L. Schnirel of the Homicide Bureau.