Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that a 19-year-old male from Rochester was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to 15 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

On July 26, 2021, at approximately 11:40 p.m., the adolescent offender intentionally fired a rifle at the teenage victim who was walking along Fairgreen Avenue in the Town of Amherst. The adolescent offender was in the passenger seat of a vehicle being driven by his co-defendant, Jeremiah Johnson, when he shot the victim.

The victim, a male who was 17-year-old at the time of the crime, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he underwent surgery for serious physical injuries. The victim suffered paralysis and continues to receive treatment for the injuries he sustained in the shooting. 

The gunman, who was 17-years-old at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty, as charged, to one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Assault in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felonies) on September 22, 2022. Today, Judge Eagan denied youthful offender adjudication.

A final order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim, which remains in effect until February 2038.

His co-defendant, 21-year-old Jeremiah Johnson of Amherst, was sentenced to 13 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision on December 14, 2022. Johnson was charged under the theory of accomplice liability for providing the shooter with the rifle and driving away from the scene of the crime. Johnson also pleaded guilty, as charged, to one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Assault in the First Degree.

DA Flynn commends the Amherst Police Department for their work in the investigation as well as the US Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force for locating the defendants.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rebecca L. Schnirel of the Homicide Unit.