Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 39-year-old Demetrius D. Williams of Buffalo was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to a determinate sentence of 35 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

On June 26, 2021, at approximately 10:00 p.m., the defendant intentionally shot the victim with an illegal firearm on Marigold Avenue near Central Park Avenue in the City of Buffalo.

The victim, a 42-year-old man from Buffalo, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was hospitalized for a gunshot wound to the base on his skull, which severed his spinal cord. The victim was paralyzed from the attack. He continues to receive long-term care at an assisted living facility. 

After nearly seven hours of deliberation following a six-day trial, the jury rendered their decision on April 7, 2022. Williams was found guilty of one count of Assault 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). He was acquitted of the attempted murder charge.

Today, Williams received the maximum possible sentence of 25 years in prison on the assault charge and 10 years in prison on the gun charge, which he will serve consecutively.

DA Flynn commends the Detective Malec of the Buffalo Police Department of Homicide Unit and the U.S. Marshals Office for their work in this investigation.   

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eugene T. Partridge, III of the Homicide Unit and Assistant District Attorney Peter M. Pinelli of the Felony Trials Bureau.