Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 27-year-old Rickey L. Bryant of Buffalo was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to 20 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

On January 19, 2021, at approximately 2:00 p.m., the defendant shot the victim multiple times inside of a convenience store on Doat Street in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 35-year-old Tony D. Rookard, died at the scene.

Bryant pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony) on August 11, 2022.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad for their work in the investigation as well as the U.S. Marshals Service for locating the defendant in Dallas, Texas.

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