Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 21-year-old Jason L. Washington, Jr. of Buffalo was sentenced this morning before Acting Supreme Court Justice Andrew C. LoTempio to 5 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

On October 1, 2019, at approximately 11:30 a.m., the defendant fired multiple shots at an occupied house on Ruspin Avenue in the City of Buffalo. No one was injured, but the house was damaged by gunfire.

Later the same day, at approximately 7:00 p.m., the defendant approached the victim who was standing outside of a home on LaSalle Avenue. The defendant, with the intent to commit a burglary, pointed a gun and attempted to coerce the victim into the house. As they approached the front door, the victim grabbed a chair from the front porch and hit the defendant, which resulted in a physical altercation. During the scuffle, the defendant subsequently shot himself in the hand with the illegal gun and ran away from the scene.

Washington pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Burglary in the First Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felonies), and one count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (Class “D” felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges in the indictment against him on April 21, 2022.

The defendant’s sentence will run concurrent to his sentence in a separate criminal case. On August 31, 2019, at approximately 7:00 p.m., the defendant was involved in a fight with other individuals at Emerson Park near Sycamore Street and Koons Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The incident occurred as little league football game was ending at the park. The defendant attempted to fire a shot from an illegal weapon at the male victim’s head, but the gun did not fire. When a football coach attempted to break up the altercation and hit the defendant in the head with a football helmet, the defendant fired multiple shots at him.

The coach, 36-year-old Norzell “Nore” Aldridge of Cheektowaga, was hit in the side of his torso by gunfire. He later died at the hospital. The other victim, a 20-year-old male, was injured in the shooting. He was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was treated and released for a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

On March 10, 2022, a jury found Washington guilty of one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony), one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony) and one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony). He was acquitted of the other charges in the indictment against him. The jury rendered their decision this afternoon after four hours of deliberation following a 3 ½ day trial.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in these investigations, including retired Det. Sgt. William Cooley and retired Det. Jason Mayhook.

The attempted burglary and reckless endangerment cases were prosecuted by Chief Justin T. Wallens and Assistant District Attorney Nicholas C. Bussi of the Felony Trials Bureau. The homicide case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eugene T. Partridge, III of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney David M. Zak of the Felony Trials Bureau.