Teen Pleads Guilty for Bringing Unloaded Handgun into Buffalo Public School

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that a 17-year-old male from Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before Youth Part Judge Brenda Freedman to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds (Class E felony). The adolescent offender entered a guilty plea to the highest sustainable charge.

On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the adolescent offender was found in possession unloaded handgun inside of a school on the 600 block of East Delavan Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The weapon was recovered by a school security guard during a search of the student's bag.

The adolescent offender committed the crime after his arrest for another crime involving a handgun. On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at approximately 9:31 a.m., Buffalo Police executed a search warrant at the adolescent offender's residence on South Domedion Street. Investigators saw the adolescent offender throw what appeared to be a firearm out of a lower rear window. Police recovered a loaded, illegal pistol equipped with a large capacity feeding device. At the arraignment, our prosecutor requested that the adolescent offender be remanded. He was released on his own recognizance.

Today, he pleaded guilty before Judge Freedman to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (Class D felony) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (Class E felony).

The adolescent offender is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Due to his age and eligibility for youthful offender adjudication, our office will not be releasing his name while the matter is pending sentence in the Youth Part of Superior Court. He continues to be held without bail in the custody of the Erie County Youth Services Center.

DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in these investigations.

The cases were prosecuted by Chief Nicholas Marino and Assistant District Attorney Taylor L. Yensan of the Raise the Age/Motor Vehicle Theft Insurance Fraud Unit.