Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Running Down Three Pedestrians in Parking Ramp

Modified: April 11, 2013 10:49am

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3/25/2013

Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that 19 year old Richard J. Booze, Jr. of 400 Guilford Ave, Buffalo, pleaded guilty, as charged, to an indictment charging him with three counts of Assault in the Second Degree before Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia.  These are the highest charges for which Booze could have been convicted had he gone to trial. 

Booze admitted that on Christmas Eve of 2011 in the Augspurger Parking ramp in the Chippewa Entertainment District, he intentionally struck and injured three pedestrians with his car. The first two pedestrians, both of whom are women, were struck after Booze was asked to slow down as he sped through the ramp. The third pedestrian, a man, was struck as he tried to prevent Booze’s vehicle from fleeing the scene. All three victims suffered physical injuries as a result of the defendant’s criminal conduct.

The case was successfully prosecuted by ADA Christopher M. McCarthy and ADA Bethany A. Solek, both members of the Erie County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Bureau. DA Sedita also recognized the efforts Officer Martin Forero, of the Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit, for his assistance in securing video which led to identifying Booze as the driver of vehicle used in the hit-and-run.

Booze faces up to 7 years in state prison when he sentenced on August 7, 2013 at 11:00 AM, before Justice Buscaglia.

Booze also faces a separate charge of Robbery in the First Degree for an armed robbery and shooting at Dee’s Toe Bar on August 12, 2012.  If convicted of that charge, Booze faces an additional 25 years in state prison. A trial in that matter is scheduled for July 25th of this year.