Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that a 20-year-old male from North Tonawanda pleaded guilty this morning before Youth Part Judge Brenda Freedman to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class B violent felony). He pleaded guilty to the charge in full satisfaction of the indictment.

On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the adolescent offender shot the victim with an illegal gun on the 100 block of Laird Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 19-year-old Donovan M. Miller, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The adolescent offender was 16-years-old at the time of the homicide. Therefore, he was prosecuted in the Youth Part of Superior Court. Due to his eligibility for youthful offender adjudication, our office will not be releasing his name while the matter is pending prosecution.

The adolescent offender faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail.

DA Keane commends Detective Judy Walker of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Unit for her work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank A. Strano of the Homicide Bureau.