Erie County District John J. Flynn announces that 24-year-old Tong Rieang of Buffalo has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio on an indictment charging him with Murder in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, Attempted Robbery in the First Degree and two counts of Robbery in the First Degree.

It is alleged that after midnight on September 27, 2017, the defendant robbed two victims at gunpoint and shot another intended victim in the chest while in the vicinity of Potomac and Parkdale Avenues in the City of Buffalo. Immediately thereafter, the defendant ran across the street where he fatally shot 23-year-old Deion Brown with a semi-automatic pistol.

The defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded to jail without bail. He is scheduled to return on Monday, May 14 at 10 a.m. for further proceedings.

If convicted of the charges, the defendant faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

DA Flynn commends the outstanding investigative work of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad, including Detectives Joy Jermain and Brendan Kiefer.

Gary W. Hackbush, Chief of the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit, is prosecuting the case.

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