Juvenile Offender Pleads Guilty Ahead of Trial for Shooting Victim

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that a 16-year-old male from Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before Youth Part Judge Brenda Freedman to one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, one count of Assault in the First Degree (Class B violent felonies) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class C violent felony). The juvenile offender pleaded guilty to all counts in the indictment as jury selection was set to begin in his trial.

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, at approximately 1:00 a.m., the victim was confronted by a group of young males on Mapleridge Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The juvenile offender intentionally fired multiple shots from an illegal handgun toward the victim. The victim was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his leg. He continues to recover from the serious physical injury. The juvenile offender, who was 14-years-old at the time of the shooting, was later arrested. Our office will not be releasing the name of the juvenile due to his age.

The juvenile offender faces a maximum of 3 1/3 to 10 years of incarceration when he is sentenced on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail in the custody of the Erie County Youth Services Center.

DA Keane commends Detective Natasha Anderson of the Buffalo Police Department for her work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Briana R.D. Kalman of the Major Crimes Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Taylor L. Yensan of the Raise the Age/Motor Vehicle Theft Insurance Fraud Unit.