Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 25-year-old Semaj T. Pigram of Buffalo was virtually arraigned this afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case on an indictment charging him with one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony).  

It is alleged that on Monday, June 1, 2020, at approximately 10:00 p.m., the defendant was the passenger of a vehicle that drove through a blockade of law enforcement at a protest on Bailey Avenue near Decker Street in the City of Buffalo. Investigators allegedly recovered a loaded handgun from inside the vehicle. The weapon was reported stolen from West Seneca in January 2020.

Pigram is scheduled to return on Monday, March 29, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. Judge Case set bail at $50,000.

If convicted of the charge, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

The driver of the vehicle, Deyanna J. Davis, was arraigned last week on an indictment charging her with two counts of Assault in the First Degree (Class “B” felonies).

DA Flynn commends the New York State Police, Buffalo Police Department and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. A third defendant was initially charged and arraigned in Buffalo City Court. The Grand Jury voted to no bill the case against that defendant and the charge against him has been dismissed.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan D. Haggerty of the DA’s Homicide Unit and Assistant District Attorney Ryan M. Flaherty of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.