Defendant to Serve Prison Sentence for Fatal Shooting on Delaware Avenue and Possession of an Illegal Gun

Modified: January 11, 2022 9:40am

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1/10/2022

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 23-year-old Mario K. Washington, Jr. of Buffalo was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to an indeterminate sentence of 27 ⅓ to 32 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

On July 1, 2020, at approximately 9:53 p.m., the defendant shot the victim who was sitting inside of a vehicle in a parking lot on the 1200 block of Delaware Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 28-year-old Shariff Jackson, died at the scene. 

Washington pleaded to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony) on November 29, 2021. He was sentenced today to serve a determinate sentence of 25 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

Washington also pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony) for possession of an illegal gun in a separate case. On February 19, 2020, Erie County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant of the defendant’s home on Chelsea Place in the City of Buffalo. Investigators found an illegal, loaded firearm hidden in the basement. The defendant was linked to the gun through DNA evidence.

Today, the defendant received an indeterminate sentence of 2 ⅓ to 7 years of incarceration on the gun charge, which he will serve consecutive to his sentence on the manslaughter conviction.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office for their work in these investigations.  

The case was prosecuted by Chief Gary W. Hackbush of the Homicide Bureau and former Assistant District Attorney Matthew S. Szalkowski of the Major Crimes Unit.