Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 41-year-old Jamien L. Harris of Buffalo was arraigned this morning before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on an indictment charging her with one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony).
It is alleged that on Sunday, November 21, 2021, at approximately 11:08 a.m., Buffalo Police responded to a residence on Highgate Avenue after receiving a 911 call for a reported domestic disturbance. When the officers arrived at the home, they encountered the defendant at the front door and saw a deceased elderly woman in the living room.
The defendant is accused of intentionally killing her grandmother, 90-year-old Catherine Jones. The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the victim died from a gunshot wound to the chest and ruled the manner of death as a homicide.
As part of the investigation, Buffalo Police obtained a search warrant and found two loaded, unregistered handguns inside of the house. Harris previously pleaded guilty, as charged, to two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (Class “E” felonies) on November 2, 2022. She was sentenced before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to 5 years of probation in January 2023.
Our office requested that the defendant be held without bail. Harris, who is currently under supervision by the Erie County Probation Department, was released on her own recognizance. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.
If convicted of the charge, Harris faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan D. Haggerty of the Homicide Unit.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
