Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that a jury found Ernest W. Brown, 42, of Buffalo, 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 Friday afternoon after approximately two hours of deliberation following a five-day trial, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment.
On Saturday, July 22, 2023, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Buffalo Police officers responded to a reported shooting on Genesee Street near Mortimer Street. Three people were found shot outside of a tavern. Two victims, a 33-year-old male and 44-year-old male, were taken by ambulance to ECMC where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries. The third victim, 31-year-old Devin Lockwood, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Brown faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail.
A co-defendant, Twandrell L. Dean, 26, of Buffalo, previously entered a guilty plea for his role in the homicide. On November 12, 2024, Dean pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges in full satisfaction of the indictment. Dean faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced before Judge Maxwell Barnes on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. He remains held without bail.
DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John P. Gerken, Jr. of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant Chief Samantha N. King of the Buffalo City Court Bureau.