Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that a jury has found 24-year-old Bashar Hall of Buffalo guilty, as charged, of one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A” felony, and of one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class “B” felony, following a four-day trial. The jury deliberated for more than eight hours before rendering their verdict.

On July 17, 2018, the defendant injured his girlfriend’s 2 ½-year-old son, Xavion Hazzard, at their home on Weaver Street in the City of Buffalo. The toddler later died from his injuries at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital.

Hall faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia on Monday, July 1, 2019 at 11 a.m. He remains remanded without bail.

In February 2019, the boy’s mother, Keona Owens was found guilty, as charged, on one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A” felony, and on one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class “B” felony, following a bench trial before Justice Buscaglia.

“This little boy was beaten by the people who were there to love him, care for him, and protect him. I hope that justice has been served by this defendant being convicted on the highest possible charges,” said Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation, including Det. Sgt. Carl Lundin, Detective Joy Jermain and retired Detective Brendan Kiefer.

The case was prosecuted by Colleen Curtin Gable, Chief of the DA’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Bethany A. Solek of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau.