Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces a jury has returned a guilty verdict against 27-year-old DeShawn Harris of Rother Street in Buffalo before State Supreme Court Justice Christopher Burns.

After the week-long trial, the defendant was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree for the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Denell Baker of Buffalo on North Street on 12/28/14.

Harris was observed on surveillance video getting into a vehicle with the victim where he was fatally shot. Baker was hit 8 times, including twice in the head.  The defendant, who was on parole at the time of this offense for a 2011 Criminal Possession of a Weapon charge, was wearing an ankle monitor with GPS data.

Harris faces a 25 years to life prison term when he is sentenced on May 31, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. before Justice Burns.

A co-defendant, Jordan Hicks, pleaded guilty before jury selection to Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for driving the defendant away from the crime scene after the murder and for being caught with the murder weapon six days after the homicide.  

Hicks faces 15 years on the gun charge and 7 years on the hindering charge when he is sentenced on 5/31/16 at 9:30 a.m. before Justice Burns.

Acting DA Flaherty commends Buffalo Police Detective Timothy Salamone, Det. Scott Malec and Det. Sgt. Carl Lundin for their stellar work in this investigation.

Assistant District Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Michael D. Smith prosecuted the case.