Murder charges against man dismissed
Source: Agencies |
August 16, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
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THE chief prosecutor in Buffalo, New York of the United States, got a judge to dismiss murder charges against a man who had been accused of opening fire outside a Buffalo restaurant, killing four people and wounding four others.
Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita says photo evidence and witness statements do not back up the charges against 25-year-old Keith Johnson, of Buffalo.
Johnson had been charged with four counts of second-degree murder in the shootings outside the City Grill early Saturday. The charges were dismissed yesterday morning.
Johnson is still being held on a parole violation and could be rearrested if authorities change their minds.
Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda says there was plenty of evidence to charge Johnson, including witnesses who identified Johnson by name.
Among those killed in the shootings were a Texas man who was celebrating his first wedding anniversary in his hometown.
Managers had decided to close the City Grill in the business district after a dispute inside. The victims were leaving when a man who had been inside began shooting, police said.
"There were verbal things going on. Management apparently chose to close down and have everybody leave the restaurant," Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards said. "People were leaving when this shooting happened."
Police didn't know whether he was involved in the earlier altercation and asked witnesses to speak up.
"We need people to come forward," said Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda, who estimated there were 100 people at the scene when police arrived.
The group was attending a party in advance of a more formal anniversary celebration scheduled for later Saturday, authorities said.
The couple, Danyell Mackin, 30, and his wife, Tanisha, married in Texas a year ago and had returned to celebrate with Buffalo-area friends and family, authorities said. The wife was not hurt.
"An occasion that should have been a joyous one, a happy one, turned tragic," Mayor Byron Brown said on Saturday near the restaurant, popular with office workers and people attending theater and sporting events at night.
Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita says photo evidence and witness statements do not back up the charges against 25-year-old Keith Johnson, of Buffalo.
Johnson had been charged with four counts of second-degree murder in the shootings outside the City Grill early Saturday. The charges were dismissed yesterday morning.
Johnson is still being held on a parole violation and could be rearrested if authorities change their minds.
Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda says there was plenty of evidence to charge Johnson, including witnesses who identified Johnson by name.
Among those killed in the shootings were a Texas man who was celebrating his first wedding anniversary in his hometown.
Managers had decided to close the City Grill in the business district after a dispute inside. The victims were leaving when a man who had been inside began shooting, police said.
"There were verbal things going on. Management apparently chose to close down and have everybody leave the restaurant," Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards said. "People were leaving when this shooting happened."
Police didn't know whether he was involved in the earlier altercation and asked witnesses to speak up.
"We need people to come forward," said Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda, who estimated there were 100 people at the scene when police arrived.
The group was attending a party in advance of a more formal anniversary celebration scheduled for later Saturday, authorities said.
The couple, Danyell Mackin, 30, and his wife, Tanisha, married in Texas a year ago and had returned to celebrate with Buffalo-area friends and family, authorities said. The wife was not hurt.
"An occasion that should have been a joyous one, a happy one, turned tragic," Mayor Byron Brown said on Saturday near the restaurant, popular with office workers and people attending theater and sporting events at night.
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