Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Juan Ayala-Colon of Buffalo has been arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Barbara Johnson-Lee on one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A-1” felony. The defendant was arraigned on Wednesday, August 28, 2019.

It is alleged that on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at approximately 9:30 p.m., the defendant fatally shot 25-year-old Norbert Guzman Tapia outside of an apartment on Upper East Lane in the City of Buffalo. The victim died from his injuries at ECMC.

Ayala-Colon is scheduled to return on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at 2 p.m. for a felony hearing. He remains held without bail.

If convicted on the charge, he faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

DA Flynn commends Detectives Steve Turner, Anthony Lapiana, and Jason Mayhook of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad for their work in the investigation

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys John P. Gerken, Jr. and Patrick B. Shanahan of the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit.  

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.