Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that William M. Quinones, 28, of Buffalo, was sentenced this afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek. He received a determinate sentence of 20 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.
On Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at approximately 1:15 a.m., the defendant shot the victim with an illegal weapon outside of a tavern on the 1500 block of Hertel Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 46-year-old Madjid Elbert, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was pronounced dead.
Justice Wojtaszek found Quinones guilty of one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony) following a three-day, non-jury trial in April 2025.
DA Keane commends Detective Scott Malec and Detective Mark White of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Justin H. Caldwell of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Stephen C. Papia of the Felony Trials Bureau.
