Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 17-year-old Jason Washington of Buffalo has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A-1” felony, one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “B” felony, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class “C” felony.

It is alleged that on August 31, 2019, at approximately 7:00 p.m., a fight occurred after a little league football game at Emerson Park in the City of Buffalo. The defendant allegedly pointed a gun at one victim’s head and pulled the trigger multiple times, but the gun did not fire. 

Norzell Aldridge, a 36-year-old youth football coach from Cheektowaga, allegedly attempted to intervene and protect the victim by swinging a football helmet and hitting the defendant in the head. The defendant is accused of then firing multiple shots. Aldridge was struck once in the chest and was taken to ECMC where he succumbed to his injuries during surgery. The first victim was struck in the shoulder.

Washington was remanded without bail. He is scheduled to return for a pre-trial conference on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.

If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 75 years to life in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in these investigations, including Det. Sgt. William Cooley and Det. Jason Mayhook.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eugene Partridge of the DA’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Ryan D. Haggerty of the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.