Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces that a jury has found 32- year-old Antone Herrod of Buffalo guilty of Murder in the Second Degree in front of Erie County Court Judge David Foley.

On December 1, 2014, in the vicinity of 61 Rother Avenue in Buffalo, Herrod fatally shot 24-year-old Christopher Pratt of Buffalo.

At the time, Herrod was with his girlfriend who believed that Pratt shot her mother back in 2012 and left her unable to walk.  

Herrod and his girlfriend were driving on Rother Avenue when they spotted Pratt in the street. Herrod opened his trunk, pulled out a “long gun” and shot Pratt in the back, killing him.

Herrod claimed self-defense in the shooting, saying he fired at Pratt because he believed Pratt was walking to his car to get a gun.  Police never found a weapon in Pratt’s vehicle.

Herrod faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Wednesday, May 18th at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Foley.

Acting DA Flaherty would like to commend the investigative work of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad, including Detectives Christopher Sterlace, Reginald Minor, Nick Mourgas and former Detectives Sal Valvo and James Lema.

Assistant District Attorney John Feroleto prosecuted the case.