Jury Finds Defendant Guilty of All Counts for Homicide in Buffalo's William-Emslie Neighborhood

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that a jury found Mikel L. Lowe, 32, of Buffalo, 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 on Wednesday afternoon after approximately 10 hours of deliberation following a five-day trial, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment.

On Saturday, April 19, 2025, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the defendant intentionally shot the victim with an illegal handgun in a parking lot on the 400 block of William Street near Jefferson Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 36-year-old Deval Watkins, died at the scene.

Lowe faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek on Thursday, October 8, 2026, 2:30 p.m. He remains held without bail.

DA Keane commends Detective Mark Costantino and Detective Joseph Ruggiero 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 Assistant District Attorney Taylor L. Yensan of the Raise the Age/Auto Theft Insurance Fraud Unit.