2 teen boys indicted in connection with shooting that killed 3-year-old
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Two teen boys were indicted Tuesday in connection with a Friday night shooting on Domedion Avenue that left a 3-year-old boy dead.
A 14-year-old boy and 16-year-old boy were indicted and remanded after being arraigned Tuesday afternoon, said Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane. Their names were not released due to their age.
Three-year-old Ramone Carter was killed and his 7-year-old sister was injured in the shooting while attending an outdoor family gathering.
The teen boys were both charged with the following:
- second-degree murder, one count
- attempted murder, one count
- second-degree assault, one count
They were also charged separately for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Keane said one boy allegedly had a revolver and the other had a pistol.
The 16-year-old is being charged as an adult and faces a minimum of 15 years to life or a maximum of 25 years to life in prison. The 14-year-old faces a different sentence due to his age, which is a minimum of 7 1/2 years to life or a maximum of 15 years to life in prison.
Keane said it's believed that they were not targeting Carter and his sister, but were allegedly targeting another young person.
“While it’s alarming that it’s a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old doing it, it’s an unfortunate society that we’re living in today," he said. "We are going to prosecute these kids to the fullest extent of the law even though they are kids. There’s a completely innocent child that is now gone and his family is going to have to suffer and live with that.”
Keane declined to comment on the motive and disclose if the alleged shooters have a criminal history, but said he believes they intended to fire the guns.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said the community should continue to reach out to youth and provide safe spaces for them. He also said parents need to pay attention to what their children are doing and know what they have in their possession.
“What makes this even more tragic is that those who are charged with this crime are 14 years old and 16 years old. So literally, babies killing babies," Brown said. "It was inadvertent, it appeared that they were targeting someone else, but the fact that these children had guns and were so willing to use them indiscriminately is what brings us to this point today.”
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia thanked the community and witnesses for helping in the investigation.
The two teens are scheduled to return for a pre-trial conference July 24. Both are being held without bail in the custody of the Erie County Youth Services Center.
Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.