Jury Finds Teen Guilty for Fatal Shooting in Buffalo's LaSalle Neighborhood

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that a jury found Jakai Lofton, 19, 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 Friday afternoon after approximately 90 minutes of deliberation following a five-day trial, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment.

On Saturday, August 12, 2023, at approximately 5:20 p.m., the defendant, while acting in concert with another teenager, intentionally shot the victim multiple times with an illegal gun. The crime occurred on the front porch of a residence on the 200 block of Shirley Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 21-year-old Quban Romell Najee Embry, died at the scene.

Lofton faces up to 40 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Monday, May 19, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail.

His co-defendant, Anthony Borden, 19, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree for his involvement in the homicide. Borden, who remains held without bail, entered the guilty plea to the charge in full satisfaction of the indictment in November 2024. His sentencing date has not been scheduled at this time.

DA Keane commends Detective Chris Sterlace of the Buffalo Police Department and Erie County Central Police Services Forensic Laboratory for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Eugene T. Partridge, III of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant Chief Samantha N. King of the Buffalo City Court Bureau.