Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Dejuan L. Williams, also known as Juan Quionos, 43, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty this morning before Erie County Court Judge Jessica Kulpit. Williams, who was not offered a reduced plea, entered a guilty plea to all 12 counts in the indictment:
- One count of Attempted Murder in the First Degree (Class A-I felony)
- One count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (Class B violent felony)
- Two counts of Attempted Assault in the First Degree (Class C violent felonies)
- Two counts of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree (Class C violent felonies)
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class C violent felony)
- One count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class D violent felony)
- One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class D felony)
- One count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (Class A misdemeanor)
- One count of Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle (Class A misdemeanor)
- One count of Reckless Driving (unclassified misdemeanor under New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law)
On the evening of Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at approximately 8:42 p.m., two on-duty Buffalo Police officers went to a convenience store on the corner of Prospect Avenue and Connecticut Street as customers. As the officers approached the entrance, they saw an armed robbery in progress inside the store. When the defendant saw the officers, he opened the door and fired a shot toward one of the officers outside of the building. The defendant attempted to cause the death of the police officer. The other officer subsequently discharged their firearm, resulting in injury to the defendant.
The defendant attempted to forcibly steal cash and cigarettes from the store while armed with a deadly weapon. Prior to the arrival of the police officers, the defendant attempted to cause the death of the store clerk by intentionally shooting the victim with an illegal gun during the commission of the crime. The victim, a 24-year-old male, was taken by ambulance to EMC where he was treated and released for an injury to his upper leg.
After he fired a shot at the officer, the defendant ran south on Prospect Avenue where he carjacked a vehicle. The defendant recklessly drove the stolen vehicle northbound on Prospect Avenue for several blocks before crashing into multiple unoccupied parked vehicles near Massachusetts Avenue. Responding officers performed life-saving measures until the defendant was transported by ambulance to ECMC where he received treatment for an injury to his arm.
Neither of the officers were injured during the incident. A weapon was recovered from the store’s parking lot and placed into evidence.
Our office previously announced that after a conducting a review of this officer-involved shooting incident, it was determined that the actions of both police officers were justified. The member of the Buffalo Police Department who fired the shots that resulted in injuries to the defendant was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.
Today, Williams entered a guilty plea in a separate indictment. During the early morning of Saturday, April 4, 2026, the defendant struck the victim with a knife during an altercation on Tacoma Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim was transported to ECMC to be treated for an injury to his left arm. Wiliams entered a guilty plea to one count of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree (Class E felony) in full satisfaction of the indictment.
Williams, who remains held without bail, is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 9:30 a.m. The Court committed to a sentence of 20 years to life in prison as a persistent felony offender.
DA Keane commends Detective Jennifer Zanghi, Detective Mark Costantino, Detective Joseph Ruggiero, and Sgt. Shawn McCabe and members of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in these investigations.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Briana R.D. Kalman of the Major Crimes Bureau, Chief Andres D. Ortiz of the Felony Trials Bureau and Chief Ashley M. Morgan of the Homicide Bureau.