Buffalo, NY – Two men face severe charges in connection with a fatal shooting that left one dead and two injured in the city’s Willert Park neighborhood.
Photo By Erie County DA’s Office
Photo By Erie County DA’s Office
41-year-old Ernest Brown of Buffalo was arraigned on a sealed indictment, facing one count of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. Arrested recently in Jamestown, Brown has been sought after on an indictment warrant.
His co-defendant, 25-year-old Twandrell L. Dean, also from Buffalo, was previously arraigned on similar charges. Dean was taken into custody on September 8, 2023, and has since been remanded.
The charges stem from an incident on July 22, 2023, at approximately 3:00 a.m. Buffalo Police responded to reports of a shooting on Genesee Street near Mortimer Street. Upon arrival, they discovered three individuals with gunshot wounds outside a local tavern. Two victims, a 33-year-old male and a 44-year-old male, were transported to ECMC with non-life-threatening injuries. Sadly, the third victim, 31-year-old Devin Lockwood, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prosecutors allege that Brown and Dean, acting in concert, fired an illegal weapon with the intent to kill. Both men face significant legal battles ahead. Brown is set for a pre-trial conference on July 16, 2024, while Dean will return to court on August 7, 2024. If convicted of the highest charge, they each face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane praised the Buffalo Police Department for their diligent investigation. The case is being handled by Assistant District Attorney John P. Gerken, Jr. from the Homicide Bureau.
As with all individuals accused of crimes, Brown and Dean are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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