Two Buffalo teenagers have been arrested in connection with a Friday night shooting that claimed the life of a 3-year-old child and injured his 7-year-old sister.
Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced Tuesday that a 16-year-old male and a 14-year-old male, both from Buffalo, were arraigned before Youth Part Judge Brenda M. Freedman. The juvenile offender and adolescent offender have each been indicted on one count of second-degree murder (Class “A-I” felony), one count of second-degree attempted murder (Class “B” violent felony), one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (Class “C” violent felony), and one count of second-degree assault (Class “D” felony). Their names were not released due to their age.
About 9:30 p.m. Friday, Buffalo Police responded to a reported shooting on Domedion Avenue near Genesee Street in Buffalo. Two children were hit by gunfire while playing outside. One victim, 3-year-old Ramone L. Carter, was taken in a police patrol vehicle to Erie County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The second victim, his 7-year-old sister, was grazed by a bullet. She was taken by ambulance to Oishei Children’s Hospital where she was treated for an injury to her back.
Police said the adolescent offender and juvenile offender, while acting in concert with one another, each fired an illegal gun with the intent to cause the death of another person, which resulted in the murder of the toddler. The adolescent offender and juvenile offender are also accused of causing physical injury to the injured child. The investigation determined that both the deceased victim and the surviving victim were innocent bystanders and not the intended target of the shooting.
The adolescent offender and the juvenile offender are scheduled to return on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. Both are being held without bail in the custody of the Erie County Youth Services Center.
If convicted of the highest charge, the adolescent offender faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life of incarceration. If convicted of the highest charge, the juvenile offender faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life of incarceration.
Keane commended the many members of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Unit and Gun Violence Unit as well as Erie County Central Police Services for their work in this ongoing investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John P. Gerken, Jr. of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Noha A. Elnakib of the Raise the Age/Motor Vehicle Theft Insurance Fraud Unit.