A 19-year-year old Buffalo man faces up to 15 years in prison after firing a gun inside a multi-family home in Buffalo on June 9, injuring an adult and a sleeping child, who was struck by a stray bullet.
Markus J. Wright, 19, of Buffalo, was arraigned Thursday before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on an indictment charging him with the following offenses:
• One count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (Class C violent felony)
• One count of second-degree assault (Class D violent felony)
• One count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (Class D violent felony)
• One count of first-degree reckless endangerment (Class D felony)
The incident occurred about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, according to Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane. Buffalo Police responded to a shooting on the first block of Hager Street. Wright is accused of possessing an illegal firearm, equipped with a large-capacity feeding device, that was discharged during a domestic dispute. Wright is accused of recklessly engaging in conduct, under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life, that created a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person.
According to police, the bullet initially grazed the foot of an adult victim, a 34-year-old man, then traveled through the floor into the first-floor apartment, where it hit a 6-year-old child who was asleep. The child was taken by ambulance to Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo to receive treatment for an injury to their left shoulder. The adult victim was taken in a private vehicle to Erie County Medical Center where he was treated for an injury to his foot.
Wright is scheduled to return on July 21 for a pre-trial conference. He continues to be held without bail. Temporary orders of protection remain in effect.
If convicted of the highest count, Wright faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Keane commended the Buffalo Police Department Gun Violence Unit and the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force for their work in this ongoing investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Samantha N. King of the Major Crimes Bureau.