Buffalo man charged with murder in Willert Park shooting

Acting Erie County Prosecutor Michael J. Keane announces that Ernest Brown, 41, of Buffalo was arraigned this afternoon before Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes in Erie County Court on a sealed indictment charging him with one count of second-degree murder (class “AI” felony) and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (class “AI”). C » violent crime). Brown, wanted on an indictment warrant, was arrested late last week in the Jamestown area.

His co-accused, Twandrell L. Dean of Buffalo, 25, had already been arrested on an indictment warrant. Dean was arraigned before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on one count of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on September 8, 2023.

It is alleged that on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at approximately 3 a.m., Buffalo Police officers responded to a reported shooting on Genesee Street near Mortimer Street. Three people were found shot to death outside a tavern. Two victims, a 33-year-old man and a 44-year-old man, were transported by ambulance to ECMC where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The third victim, Devin Lockwood, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene. The defendants, while acting in concert with each other, are accused of having fired an illegal weapon with the intention of causing the death of the victim.

Brown is scheduled to return on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. for a pretrial conference. He was held without bail. Dean, who has been remanded since his arraignment, is scheduled to return before Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes in Erie County Court on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.

If convicted of the highest charge, Brown and Dean face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

Acting DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John P. Gerken, Jr. of the Homicide Bureau.

Like all people accused of a crime, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.