Guilty Plea in Riverside Homicide

Modified: December 17, 2019 2:31pm

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12/17/2019

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Juan Ayala-Colon of Buffalo pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class “B” violent felony.

On Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at approximately 9:30 p.m., the defendant fatally shot 25-year-old Norbert Guzman Tapia outside of an apartment on Upper East Lane in the City of Buffalo. The victim died from his injuries at ECMC.

Ayala-Colon faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. He remains held without bail.

DA Flynn commends Detectives Anthony Lapiana and Jason Mayhook of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad for their work in the investigation

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Patrick B. Shanahan and John P. Gerken, Jr. the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit.