Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Christopher L. Busby, 40, of Buffalo was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to 5 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. His son, Daiquan A. Busby, 21, of Buffalo, was also sentenced this morning before Judge Wojtaszek to 7 ½ years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.
On Saturday, December 17, 2022, at approximately 10:00 p.m., the defendants, while acting in concert with Lewis Keys, 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.
On June 5, 2024, Christopher Busby pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony). He pleaded guilty to the sole count in the indictment ahead of his jury trial, which was scheduled to begin the following week. In May 2024, Daiquan Busby pleaded guilty, as charged, to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree.
Their co-defendant, Lewis A. Keys, 24, of Buffalo, also pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree for his involvement in the fatal assault in May 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 Major Crimes Bureau, Chief Cathleen M. Roemer of the Buffalo City Court Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Rebecca L. Schnirel of the Homicide Bureau.