Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that a jury found Nigel L. Flint, 29, of Amherst, guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony). Jurors rendered their decision yesterday afternoon after approximately six hours of deliberation following a five-day trial, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment.
On Saturday, September 16, 2023, at approximately 4:00 a.m., the defendant intentionally shot the victim with an illegal gun on the 200 block of Allen Street in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 28-year-old Darnell J. Lynch, Jr., died at the scene.
Later the same morning, at approximately 4:15 a.m., Buffalo Police officers saw a vehicle traveling the wrong way on Mariner Street, a short distance away from the homicide scene. Officers found a loaded, illegal handgun at the feet of the defendant while searching the vehicle. Ballistics analysis of the recovered gun determined that it was the weapon used in the homicide. Additionally, surveillance video showed the defendant fleeing from the area after the shooting.
On Monday, January 29, 2024, Flint was found in Detroit, Michigan where he was taken into custody on an indictment warrant. After waiving extradition proceedings, the defendant was brought back to Western New York in mid-February to face prosecution.
Flint faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced before State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail.
DA Keane commends Detective Scott Malec and Detective Mark White of the Buffalo Police Department, Erie County Crime Analysis Center and the US Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher S. Safulko of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Briana R.D. Kalman of the Narcotics/Intelligence Bureau.