Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces a jury has convicted 35-year-old Abimael Ayala-Gonzalez of Lorain, Ohio of Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree before State Supreme Court Justice Christopher Burns.

On August 7, 2014 on Herkimer Street in Buffalo, Ayala-Gonzalez fatally shot 51-year old Manuel Mateo of New York City over drugs.

The defendant faces a maximum of 25 years to life when he is sentenced on June 14, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. by Justice Burns.

Acting Da Flaherty credits the investigative work of Det. Sgt. Carl Lundin and Detectives Joy Jermain and Scott Malec of the Buffalo Police Homicide Unit.

Homicide Bureau Chief Colleen Curtin Gable and Assistant District Attorney Jack J. Niejadlik prosecuted the case.