Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 25-year-old Blake M. Banks of Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony).

On July 20, 2021, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the defendant shot the victim during a dispute on Broadway near Bennett Street in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 40-year-old Jason Johnson, attempted to escape the attack by driving off in a vehicle, but crashed his vehicle nearby moments later. He was taken to ECMC where he died from his injuries.

Banks, a former Buffalo firefighter who was off-duty at the time of the crime, faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. He continues to remain held without bail.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad for their work in this investigation.   

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eugene T. Partridge, III of the Homicide Bureau.