A celebration amongst family members in Buffalo, New York took a heartbreaking turn on the evening of June 21, 2024, as a shooting incident resulted in the death of a three-year-old boy and left his seven-year-old sister injured. The unfortunate event unfolded around 9:30 p.m.
The victims of the incident, Ramone Carter, aged three, and his sibling, Jamia Griffin, were at a family function where Ramone was riding his tricycle and Jamia was accompanying him. As per local news reports, the children were not the intended recipients of the bullets.
Following the shooting, the young boy was swiftly transported to the Erie County Medical Center by law enforcement officers, where he was declared dead. His sister, however, is expected to make a complete recovery. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown lamented the incident, noting the significant problem of illegal firearms in the city.
Mayor Brown voiced his grief at a press conference, painting a picture of the incident: “A three-year-old boy was relishing a summer evening in the company of his family, pedaling his tricycle with his seven-year-old sister by his side, when out of the blue, gunfire ensued, striking both children.”
In connection to the shooting, two adolescents, one armed with a revolver and the other with a pistol, have been apprehended and charged. As stated by Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane, the teenagers, aged 14 and 16, have been indicted and are facing charges such as murder, attempted murder, assault, and weapons possession.
The identities of the arrested teenagers have been withheld due to their minor status. In announcing the charges, Mayor Brown stated, “Literally, babies killing babies.” The Police Commissioner implied that the suspects were aiming at another person when the children unintentionally became victims.
The mother of the victims, Shakenya Griffin, recalled the horrifying moments post the gunfire. “He ran right to me, and he was full of blood,” she shared with the press. “I collapsed in my neighbor’s grass and said call 911.” Her distress and shock echo the sentiments of many in the community, who are grappling with the aftermath of this unwarranted act of violence.
Martina Carter, the eldest sibling of Ramone, portrayed him as an “amazing kid” who “didn’t harm anyone.” She further stated, “I could never have imagined that a three-year-old playing outside at a graduation party would be caught in a crossfire, shot, and killed.”
The community has shown their support for the grieving family, expressing their condolences and urging an end to the recurring violence in the city.
Mayor Brown, along with other city officials, have pledged to intensify their efforts to curb the rampant spread of illegal firearms and to safeguard the well-being of all residents.
