Teen sentenced for shooting security officer with illegal gun outside of McKinley High School during brawl

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced an 18-year-old male from Buffalo was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case, a designated Youth Part judge, to five years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. Judge Case denied youthful offender adjudication.

On Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the adolescent offender intentionally shot a school security officer who ran toward a crowd in an attempt to break up a fight outside of McKinley High School. The adolescent offender intentionally fired multiple rounds from an illegal weapon during the incident. The security officer, a 27-year-old male, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was treated and released for a gunshot wound to his left leg.

The adolescent offender, who was 17 years old at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (class “C” violent felony) and one count of assault in the second degree (class “D” violent felony) on Feb. 10, 2023.

Another 18-year-old male from Buffalo was sentenced for his role in the violence that occurred outside of McKinley High School last February. He was sentenced to an indeterminate term of incarceration between one to three years. He was adjudicated as a youthful offender despite opposition by prosecutors.

The adolescent offender, who was also 17 years old at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder in the second degree and one count of assault in the first degree (class “B” violent felonies). The adolescent offender pleaded guilty to all charges in the indictment against him on Jan. 4, 2023.

On Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the adolescent offender, along with other unknown individuals, was involved in the assault of a student outside of McKinley High School in the City of Buffalo. The 14-year-old male student was beaten and stabbed multiple times during the altercation.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Oishei Children’s Hospital where he was hospitalized with serious physical injuries from multiple stab wounds.

DA Flynn commends Det. Mark Costantino and the Buffalo Police Department, as well as other assisting law enforcement agencies for their work in this ongoing investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Danielle N. D’Abate of the community prosecution/training bureau, Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Bussi of the felony trials bureau and Chief John P. Feroleto of the major crimes unit.