2 teens charged in Buffalo shooting that killed 3-year-old

“Literally, it’s babies killing babies,” he said. “It was inadvertent. It seemed like they were targeting someone else. But the fact that these kids had guns and were so willing to use them indiscriminately is what brings us to this point today. “

The unnamed boys were charged Tuesday, less than four days after the shooting of a 3-year-old and his 7-year-old sister, killing toddler Ramone “Red” Carter and injuring Jamia Griffin.

They are accused of shooting the two children while shooting at a group of people outside on Domedion Avenue in the Pine Hill neighborhood near the Buffalo-Cheektowaga border, the acting prosecutor said Michael J. Keane.

They were charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

Both teenagers have pleaded not guilty. They were arraigned before Erie County Family Court Judge Brenda M. Freedman in the juvenile section of Erie County Court, underscoring the seriousness of the charges and the potential consequences if the teens are found guilty, Keane said.

He said two weapons were recovered in connection with the case, a pistol and a revolver.

The 14-year-old is accused of possessing a pistol, while the 16-year-old had a revolver, according to the two-page indictment.

Keane said the 16-year-old would be tried as an adult. If convicted of second-degree murder, he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years to life in prison and a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

The attempted murder charge was filed for shooting the person who was the intended target, an individual Keane described as “another young person.”

“As far as the 14-year-old is concerned, he faces a different sentence because of his age and his status as a juvenile offender,” Keane said.

He will be tried in the Juvenile Division of State Supreme Court and faces a potential minimum sentence of 7 1/2 years to life in prison and a maximum of 15 years to life.

Both youths were remanded into custody at the East Ferry Street youth detention center, Keane said.

Keane and Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia highlighted the community’s role in bringing about a quick arrest, by sharing information with their offices.

Keane said that with the proliferation of cameras on doorbells, cell phones and telephone surveys, law enforcement often has much more evidence in investigations than before the use of these devices became widespread. generalizes.

But eyewitness testimony remains crucial to successful prosecutions, and people in the community have stepped up to provide considerable assistance in the case, he added.

“Without direct witnesses to come forward and say what happened: ‘I saw this and I saw this man do that,’ these cases are extremely difficult,” Keane said. “Luckily, in this case, I think there was a response due to the fact that it was a 3-year-old baby.”

Keane also praised the work of his attorneys and Erie County Forensic Lab employees, who worked throughout the weekend to ensure charges were brought quickly. While the incident occurred Friday evening and the grand jury returned an indictment Tuesday, law enforcement officials were able to work “at lightning speed,” he said. he declares.

“It is important that these witnesses cooperate immediately,” Keane said. “Because if time passes, if three days pass, a week or two weeks, they may be less motivated to help us.”

Gramaglia said officers were already in the area when the shooting occurred, during a micro-grid patrol, a tactic the department uses to increase police presence in targeted areas that have seen a number significant number of firearms or violent activities. This allowed them to react quickly.

“We were fortunate to be able to get there so quickly,” he said.

Gramaglia said it was not standard protocol to take gunshot victims to the hospital in a police car. But, given the extreme circumstances, the officers made the right decision in transporting Ramone to the hospital.

“I applaud the officers for making the right decision and putting the baby in the back of a police car and running to the hospital as fast as they could,” Gramaglia said.

Ramone, nicknamed Red by his friends and family, was riding his tricycle outside with his siblings and friends around 9:30 p.m. Friday when the shooting began.

His mother, Shakenya Griffin, heard gunshots and ran outside looking for her children. She saw for the first time her daughter, Jamia, Ramone’s 7-year-old sister, who was grazed by a bullet. Then she saw Ramone.

Ramone, who would have turned 4 on July 6, was pronounced dead a short time later at Erie County Medical Center. Her sister was treated at Oishei Children’s Hospital.

“She will be physically fine,” Gramaglia said at a news conference Saturday.

At the time of the incident, there was no party, gathering or other event, said Mia Ayers-Goss, executive director of Most Valuable Parent, an anti-gun violence organization.

The organization involves parents and guardians of Buffalo school children to help keep the peace. Griffin has been an active member of MVP for some time, Ayers-Goss said.

“It’s something she’s passionate about as far as addressing gun violence and trying to reduce gun violence,” Ayers-Goss said. “So it’s definitely something that’s close to his heart.” We really want to make sure people pay attention to this, and we need to do something about this violence.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call or text the Buffalo Police Confidential Hotline at 716-847-2255.

Staff reporters Scott Scanlon and Harold McNeil contributed to this report.