Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Roberto Leon of Buffalo has been sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller to 25 years to life in prison.

On November 28, 2017, at approximately 8:15 p.m., the defendant fatally shot 25-year-old Luis Rivera of Buffalo on Center Lane in Buffalo’s Riverside neighborhood.

A jury found Leon guilty, as charged, on one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A” felony, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class “C” felony. The jury rendered their verdict after less than an hour of deliberations on February 4, 2019.

DA Flynn commends the investigative work of the Buffalo Police Department, including Det. Patricia Wrest, Det. Sgt. Carl Lundin and Officer Hector Coco.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rebecca L. Schnirel of the DA’s Domestic Violence Bureau.