Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Kenyatta Austin of Buffalo has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A-1” felony, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class “C” violent felony.

It is alleged that on March 19, 2017, at approximately 3 p.m., the defendant shot 24-year-old Luis Flores on East Ferry Street near Bissell Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim died from his injuries a short time later.

Austin remains in custody without bail. He is scheduled to return on Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. for a pre-trial conference.

If convicted on all charges, Austin faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

DA Flynn commends Det. Sgt. William Cooley of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad for their work in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ashley M. Morgan of the DA’s Homicide Bureau.

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