Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 29-year-old Kenyatta Austin of Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony).

On March 19, 2017, at approximately 3:00 p.m., the defendant shot the victim on East Ferry Street near Bissell Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 24-year-old Luis Flores, died from his injuries a short time later.

Austin faces a maximum of 25 years prison when he is sentenced on Monday, May 9, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. The defendant continues to remain held without bail on this case. 

Austin is currently serving 64 years to life in prison after being convicted in a separate homicide case. A judge found the defendant guilty of murder, assault and gun charges for committing a shooting outside of a home on Grape Street in the City of Buffalo that killed 54-year-old Yvette Johnson and her 17-month-old grandson, Kyrie Johnson, on July 2, 2018. Two other individuals were injured by gunfire, but survived.

DA Flynn commends retired Det. Sgt. William Cooley of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad for his work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ashley M. Morgan of the Homicide Bureau who also prosecuted the case against the defendant for the murders on Grape Street.