Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces thata jury has found 39-year-old Jonathan Whitsett of Buffalo guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-II” 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 five hours of deliberation following a more than six-day trial, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment against him.
On Saturday, June 18, 2022, at approximately 11:40 p.m., the defendant intentionally shot the victim with an illegal gun. The crime occurred inside of the defendant’s vehicle, which was parked in the vicinity of Manhattan Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 36-year-old William P. Cobb, III, was transported in another private vehicle to ECMC where he later died from his injuries.
Whitsett faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail.
Acting DA Keane commends Detective Adam Stephany, Detective Mark Constantino, Detective Michelle Palamara, Lieutenant Mark Goodspeed and Officer Brendan Barren of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Eugene T. Partridge, III of the Major Crimes Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Kevin R. Brown of the Felony Trials Bureau.