Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that a 16-year-old male and a 14-year-old male, both from Buffalo, were arraigned late this evening before Youth Part Judge Brenda M. Freedman. The juvenile offender and adolescent offender have each been indicted on one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony), one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (Class “B” violent felony), one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony), and one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony). Our office will not be releasing the names of the accused due to their age.
On the evening of Friday, June 21, 2024, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Buffalo Police responded to a reported shooting on Domedion Avenue near Genesee Street in the City of Buffalo. Two children were hit by gunfire while playing outside. One victim, 3-year-old Ramone L. Carter, was taken in a police patrol vehicle to ECMC where he was pronounced dead. The second victim, his 7-year-old sister, was grazed by a bullet. She was taken by ambulance to Oishei Children’s Hospital where she was treated for an injury to her back.
It is alleged that the adolescent offender and juvenile offender, while acting in concert with one another, each fired an illegal gun with the intent to cause the death of another person, which resulted in the murder of the toddler. The adolescent offender and juvenile offender are also accused of causing physical injury to the injured child. The investigation determined that both the deceased victim and the surviving victim were innocent bystanders and not the intended target of the shooting.
The adolescent offender and the juvenile offender are scheduled to return on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. Both are being held without bail in the custody of the Erie County Youth Services Center.
If convicted of the highest charge, the adolescent offender faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life of incarceration. If convicted of the highest charge, the juvenile offender faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life of incarceration.
Acting DA Keane commends the many members of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Unit and Gun Violence Unit as well as Erie County Central Police Services for their work in this ongoing investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John P. Gerken, Jr. of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Noha A. Elnakib of the Raise the Age/Motor Vehicle Theft Insurance Fraud Unit.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.