Buffalo Man Receives Maximum Sentence for Fatal Shooting in City's Broadway-Fillmore Neighborhood

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Timé J. Thomas, Jr., 32, of Buffalo, was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens. Thomas received the maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

On Friday, April 26, 2024, at approximately 8:50 p.m., Buffalo Police officers responded to a shooting in the vicinity of Young Street and Ashley Street. The victim, 31-year-old Quentin Sims, was pronounced dead at the scene. The defendant intentionally shot the victim multiple times, which resulted in his death.

In February 2026, Thomas was found guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class A-I felony). Jurors rendered their decision after nearly one day of deliberations following a five-day trial, convicting the defendant of the sole count of the indictment.

DA Keane commends Detective Raymond Krug and Detective Terrence Supples of the Buffalo Police Department; Lead Crime Analyst Kathryn Mendolera of the Erie County Crime Analysis Center; ECDA Confidential Criminal Investigators Sal Valvo, Jay Mayhook, and Chris Lalka; and ECDA Chief of Technology Services Frank Palisano for their work on this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Justin H. Caldwell of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Rebecca A. Fioravanti of the Special Victims Unit.