Niagara County announces manslaughter conviction

Submitted by the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office

Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman announced Dennis D. Parson, age 20 of Buffalo, entered a guilty plea in County Court to the crime of manslaughter in the first degree this afternoon. Parson admitted to shooting and killing 24-year-old Jaylan McWilson on Jan. 21, 2023, in front of McWilson’s home in Niagara Falls. The motive appeared to be a robbery gone wrong. Parson faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 15 by County Court Judge John Ottaviano.

Seaman stated: “There was absolutely no reason for this incident to have ended in the loss of Jaylan’s life. His family is devastated. The defendant is a young man who will now spend the next 20 or more years in prison. For what? A completely senseless loss of life.”

The case was investigated by the Niagara Falls Police Department and prosecuted by Seaman himself and First Assistant District Attorney Doreen Hoffmann.