Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 41-year-old Ernest Brown of Buffalo was arraigned this afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes on a sealed indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony). Brown, who has been wanted on the indictment warrant, was arrested late last week in the Jamestown area.
His co-defendant, 25-year-old Twandrell L. Dean of Buffalo, was previously arrested on an indictment warrant. Dean was arraigned before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on one count of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree on September 8, 2023.
It is alleged that on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Buffalo Police officers responded to a reported shooting on Genesee Street near Mortimer Street. Three people were found shot outside of a tavern. Two victims, a 33-year-old male and 44-year-old male, were taken by ambulance to ECMC where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries. The third victim, 31-year-old Devin Lockwood, was pronounced dead at the scene. The defendants, while acting in concert with one another, are accused of firing an illegal weapon with the intent to cause the death of the victim.
Brown is scheduled to return on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. for a pre-trial conference. He was held without bail. Dean, who has been remanded since his arraignment, is scheduled to return before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
If convicted of the highest charge, Brown and Dean face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Acting DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John P. Gerken, Jr. of the Homicide Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
