Buffalo woman gets 20 years in prison after fatally shooting friend

A Buffalo woman who fatally shot her friend was sentenced Wednesday before Judge Kenneth in Buffalo City Court to 20 years to life in prison, according to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said Jasmine M. Craig, 31, intentionally shot Lameshea Sanders, 30, in the head around 12:35 a.m. on Aug. 22, 2022. Sanders’ body was found lying in the street outside her residence on Berkshire Avenue, near Parkridge. Avenue in the LaSalle neighborhood of Buffalo.

According to prosecutors, Craig shot his friend after a night at a bowling alley and bar after Craig became “fed up” and “out of patience.” A deeper look at what happened between the two men before the shooting was not part of the prosecution’s opening statements during Craig’s trial, which lasted more than four days in January.

The case found Craig guilty of second-degree murder, which was the only charge against her.

Acting District Attorney Michael J. Keane commended the Buffalo Police Department’s Homicide Squad for its work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Patrick B. Shanahan of the Office of Criminal Trials and Assistant Prosecutor Abbi L. Fuhrken of the Office of Justice Courts.