(WNY News Now) – A Buffalo teenager faces multiple felony charges after allegedly carjacking a vehicle with a child inside, prompting an off-duty officer to fire shots during the incident in North Buffalo.
Buffalo, NY — Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced the arraignment of 19-year-old Dorian D. Jones of Buffalo on charges related to a carjacking incident that occurred on Thursday evening in North Buffalo.
Jones was arraigned on Saturday before Buffalo City Court Judge Tiffany R. Perry on two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felonies) and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor).
It is alleged that on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m., the defendant allegedly displayed what appeared to be a handgun and forcibly stole a vehicle from the adult victim and his two children. The alleged crime occurred on Cheltenham Drive in the City of Buffalo. The victim, an off-duty Niagara Falls police officer, reportedly fired shots at the defendant during the incident.
Jones fled the scene with one of the victim’s children still inside the stolen vehicle. Buffalo Police located the defendant a short distance away on Delaware Avenue. He was transported to ECMC for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The child was recovered unharmed nearby.
Prosecutors requested that Jones be held without bail, citing his pending sentencing for prior offenses. Judge Perry set bail at $80,000 cash or bond, with a felony hearing scheduled for January 16, 2025. If convicted of the highest charge, Jones could face up to 15 years in prison.
Jones is currently pending sentence after pleading guilty to charges in three separate incidents involving stolen vehicles. On October 30, 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (Class “E” felony) and two counts of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (Class “A” misdemeanors). Jones, who was released under supervision, is currently scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Following this recent incident, Judge Kenneth Case revoked Jones’s release under supervision and ordered him held without bail, as prosecutors argued he posed a significant risk by committing another felony while awaiting sentencing.
The ongoing investigation is being led by the Buffalo Police Department. The robbery case is being prosecuted by Chief Ashley M. Morgan of the Major Crimes Bureau, with the stolen vehicle cases handled by Assistant District Attorney Milton D. Gordon of the Raise the Age/Motor Vehicle Theft Insurance Fraud Unit.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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