Teen Sentenced for Fatal Assault on Buffalo's West Side

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Jalik Grissom, 17, of Buffalo was sentenced yesterday afternoon before Youth Part Judge Brenda Freedman. Grissom, who was denied youthful offender adjudication, received a determinate sentence of 6 ½ years of incarceration followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

On Sunday, May 4, 2025, at approximately 5:45 p.m., Buffalo Police responded to a 911 call from a witness who saw the assault of an elderly man near the corner of Parkdale Avenue and Forest Avenue. The adolescent offender repeatedly kicked and stomped the victim in the head after he fell to the ground.

Buffalo Police officers located the adolescent offender, who matched the description of the suspect, to a nearby and followed him to a residence on Baynes Street where he was taken into custody. The victim, 88-year-old Andrew Krawczuk, was taken by ambulance to ECMC. The victim, also known as Andrew Krawchuk, later died from the injuries on Monday, June 2, 2025. The adolescent offender was 16-years-old at the time of the homicide.

In May 2026, Grissom pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class B violent felony). He entered a guilty plea to the highest sustainable charge and sole count of the indictment.

DA Keane commends Detective Sgt. Rachael Isch, Officer Justin Ayala, Officer Mohammad Abdallah and Officer Steven Zappia of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Nicholas Marino of the Raise the Age/Motor Vehicle Theft Insurance Fraud Unit and Assistant District Attorney Ryan Emmerling of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.