Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that a jury found Lafayete C. Paige, 31, of Buffalo, guilty of one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony). Jurors rendered their decision yesterday afternoon after less than an hour of deliberation following a 2 ½-day trial, convicting the defendant of the highest count. Prior to jury deliberations, the Court dismissed the second count of the indictment after defense counsel moved for a trial order of dismissal.
On Saturday, September 14, 2024, at approximately 3:10 a.m., Buffalo Police responded to the area of Goodyear Avenue after a caller reported that an unknown individual fired a shot into their vehicle, which caused damage to the right rear window. Approximately seven minutes later, responding police officers initiated a traffic stop on Bailey Avenue, a short distance from the scene of the reported shooting. The occupied white Jeep matched the description of the suspect vehicle provided by the victim. During the search, police found the defendant, who was the rear seat passenger, in possession of an illegal handgun. The gun was recovered from his person and submitted into evidence for testing. Forensic analysis determined that the loaded firearm was operable.
Paige faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced as a second violent felony offender before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. He was held without bail pending sentence.
DA Keane commends members of the Buffalo Police Department and the Erie County Central Police Services laboratory for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Stephen C. Papia and Ryan A. Fortuna of the Felony Trials Bureau.