Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 19-year-old Thierry Bikorimana of Buffalo was arraigned this morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Andrew C. LoTempio on one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony).
It is alleged that on the evening of Sunday, December 10, 2023, the defendant intentionally shot the victim while inside of a residence on the 300 block of Grider Street in the City of Buffalo. Buffalo Police officers later found the victim, a 44-year-old male, deceased inside the basement of his home.
Bikorimana was held without bail. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.
If convicted of the charge, Bikorimana faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Bikorimana has another criminal case pending in Buffalo City Court. It is alleged that on Monday, June 19, 2023, at approximately 1:16 p.m., the defendant forcibly stole property from the victim on East Delavan Avenue and Northumberland Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim allegedly arranged to meet with the defendant through Facebook Marketplace to purchase a PlayStation system. It is alleged that when the victim handed $60 cash to the defendant in exchange for the video game system, the defendant allegedly displayed what appeared to be a handgun and fled with the money.
On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, the defendant was arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Phillip Dabney, Jr. on one count of Robbery in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony). Bikorimana is scheduled to return for a felony hearing on Friday, December 22, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. He was released on bail set at $10,000 cash, bond or partially secured bond.
DA Flynn commends Detectives Mark Costantino, Jon Pietrzak and Joseph Ruggiero of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the homicide investigation.
The homicide case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John P. Gerken, Jr. of the Homicide Bureau. The robbery case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin R. Brown of the Felony Trials Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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