Buffalo Man Sentenced for Homicide on City's West Side

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Moises Cortijo, 49, of Buffalo, was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens. Cortijo received an indeterminate sentence of 15 years to life in prison.

On Sunday, July 13, 2025, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Buffalo Police responded to a shooting on the 300 block of Busti Avenue. The victim, 35-year-old David Ortiz-Ramos, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was pronounced deceased. The investigation determined that the defendant was a participant in the fatal shooting of the victim.

In July 2026, a jury found Cortijo guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class A-I felony) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class C violent felony). Jurors rendered their decision after less than two hours of deliberation following a two-day trial, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment.

DA Keane commends Detective Mark White, Detective Franklyn King and members of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Christopher S. Safulko of the Major Crimes Bureau and Chief Nicholas Marino of the Raise the Age/Motor Vehicle Theft Insurance Fraud Unit.