Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces an indictment against two individuals who have been charged in a fatal shooting that occurred over three years ago on the City of Buffalo.

This morning, 31-year-old Bryant Ziegler, Jr. of Buffalo was arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony).

A co-defendant, 24-year-old Sidney Watson of Buffalo, was arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on September 8, 2021. Watson was also indicted on one count of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.

It is alleged that on June 2, 2018, at approximately 3:00 a.m., the defendants, while acting in concert with one another, fatally shot 36-year-old Paris Warren, Jr. with an illegal weapon on Genesee Street near High Street in the City of Buffalo. The victim died at the scene.

Watson and Ziegler are scheduled to return on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. for a pre-trial conference before Judge Maxwell Barnes. Watson was held on $250,000 bail. Ziegler was remanded without bail.

If convicted of all charges, Watson and Ziegler face up to 25 years to life in prison. 

DA Flynn commends the Detective Timothy Rooney and members of the Buffalo Police Homicide Squad for their work in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan D. Haggerty of the Homicide Bureau.

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