Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 25-year-old Nicky Lofton of Buffalo was arraigned this afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on an indictment charging him with one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony) and one count of Obstruction of Governmental Administration in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor).

It is alleged that on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at approximately 2:06 a.m., a Buffalo Police Department detective, who was investigating a shooting on Pearl Street, saw the defendant running in an alleyway near the scene of the crime. The defendant allegedly refused multiple commands by officers to stop, but was taken into custody in a nearby parking lot. Detectives allegedly found an illegal loaded “ghost gun” on his person.

Lofton is also scheduled to return on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. for a pre-trial conference. He remains released on $7,500 bond previously posted in Buffalo City Court.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department Intelligence Unit and Special Operations Unit for their work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin R. Brown of the Felony Trials Bureau. 

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