Teen Pleads Guilty as Accomplice in Assault and Stabbing of Student Outside of McKinley High School

Modified: January 4, 2023 3:10pm

Latest News

Redirecting to our new, updated website ...
1/4/2023

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that an 18-year-old male from Buffalo pleaded guilty this afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case, a designated Youth Part judge, to one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Assault in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felonies). The adolescent offender pleaded guilty to all charges in the indictment against him.

On Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the adolescent offender, along with other unknown individuals, was involved in the assault of a student outside of McKinley High School in the City of Buffalo. The 14-year-old male student was beaten and stabbed multiple times during the altercation.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Oishei Children’s Hospital where he was hospitalized with serious physical injuries from multiple stab wounds.

The adolescent offender, who was 17-years-old at the time of the crime, is eligible for youthful offender adjudication when he is sentenced on Friday, February 10, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Due to his age at the time of the crime, our office will not be releasing the name of the adolescent offender.

He continues to be remanded to the custody of the Erie County Youth Services Center. 

The case against a second teenager who was indicted for his alleged involvement in the violence outside of McKinley High School remains pending. The adolescent offender, an 18-year-old male from Buffalo, is accused of intentionally shooting a school security officer who ran toward the crowd in an attempt to break up the fight. The adolescent offender, who was 17-years-old at the time of the crime, is accused of intentionally firing multiple rounds from an illegal weapon. The security officer, a 27-year-old male, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was treated and released for a gunshot wound to his left leg.

A jury trial has been scheduled to begin on February 27, 2023. The adolescent offender continues to be remanded to the custody of the Erie County Youth Services Center. 

DA Flynn commends Detective Mark Costantino and the Buffalo Police Department as well as other assisting law enforcement agencies for their work in this ongoing investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Danielle N. D’Abate of the Community Prosecution/Training, Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Bussi of the Felony Trials Bureau and Chief John P. Feroleto of the Major Crimes Unit.

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