(WNY News Now) – Two Buffalo teenagers were convicted in Erie County Court for their roles in a 2024 shooting that killed a 3-year-old boy and injured his 7-year-old sister while they played outside in Buffalo’s Schiller Park neighborhood.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced that two teenage defendants have been found guilty for their involvement in a fatal shooting that claimed the life of 3-year-old Ramone “Red” Carter and injured his sister. The verdicts came Wednesday morning, October 29, 2025, following a four-day trial and roughly five hours of jury deliberation.
A 16-year-old male from Buffalo was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and Assault in the Second Degree. He was found guilty on all counts.
A co-defendant, a 17-year-old male, was convicted of Manslaughter in the First Degree—a lesser included offense—and Assault in the Second Degree, while being acquitted of the remaining charges.
The shooting occurred on June 21, 2024, around 9:30 p.m. on Domedion Avenue near Genesee Street. Buffalo Police responded to reports of gunfire and found two young children struck by bullets while playing outside. Ramone Carter was shot in the back and rushed to ECMC by police, where he was pronounced deceased. His 7-year-old sister suffered a grazing wound to her back and was treated at Oishei Children’s Hospital.
Police arrested the two teens within minutes, several blocks from the scene. They were wearing clothing matching witness descriptions, and officers recovered an illegal handgun from the younger suspect. Investigators later determined that two firearms were used in the shooting, though one was never recovered.
Prosecutors said the defendants had approached a group of young males and opened fire with intent to kill, striking the children instead, who were not the intended targets.
“Ramone Carter’s life was tragically ended before his fourth birthday. ‘Red’ and his older sister were innocent victims of gun violence perpetrated by two teenagers in possession of illegal firearms. I commend the surviving victim for her courageous actions on the day of this crime and bravely testifying before a jury.” District Attorney Keane said. “I also want to acknowledge the responding officers who rendered immediate aid to ‘Red’ and those who swiftly apprehended the suspects moments after the shooting,”
Both defendants remain in custody at the Erie County Youth Services Center without bail. They are scheduled to be sentenced before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on January 20, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. The 16-year-old faces a maximum of 15 years to life, while the 17-year-old, eligible for youthful offender adjudication, faces up to 25 years in prison. Their names are being withheld due to their ages at the time of the offense.
DA Keane credited Buffalo Police Officers Ashunti McClain, Michael Griffin, Jordan Wansart, Stanley Honrada, and Peter Nguyen, as well as Erie County Central Police Services and victim advocates Kimberly Rapp and Nicole Haffa, for their roles in the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John P. Gerken Jr. of the Homicide Bureau and Chief Noha A. Elnakib of the Raise the Age/Motor Vehicle Theft Insurance Fraud Unit.
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