LOCKPORT — Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman announced that a Niagara County Jury returned a verdict this afternoon convicting 24 year old Joshua Z. Chandler of Lockport, of all charges against him. Chandler was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for a July 2, 2023, shooting in the City of Lockport that killed 27 year old Rakeem Hamilton and left another individual seriously injured.
Seaman said: “This defendant opened fire with an illegal handgun on a car full of people over some dispute with the driver. Well, the driver escaped unharmed, but one passenger in that car was killed and another, a young lady, was shot in the face. We will be asking the judge to impose a maximum sentence on this defendant for these outrageous crimes.”
The case was investigated by the Lockport Police Department and prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Doreen Hoffmann and Assistant District Attorney Christine Savoia. The defendant faces up to 65 years to life in prison when he returns to court in December to be sentenced by Acting Supreme Court Justice Mario Giacobbe.
