A young Buffalo man is behind bars charged with shooting eight people, two of them fatally. Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Flaherty says Diamond Lewis, 19, of Keystone Street, has been arraigned on a 19-count indictment including two counts of murder in the second degree. Flaherty says Lewis is also charged with attempted murder and several assaults.
"There is an allegation that Mr. Lewis was affiliated with a local gang and some of these were motivated by gang inter-turf battles. Although that may be the motive, frankly, it's not that relevant because there can't be a good motive," Flaherty said.
Lewis allegedly shot his victims at four different locations throughout the city between October 2014 and January 2016. One of the survivors is permanently paralyzed. Two innocent bystanders, a 13-year-old boy and an 18-year-old girl were injured in the shootings.
"The unlawful, illegal use of firearms has again brought pain to so many families and pain to the community," Flaherty said.
Lewis is being held without bail. He faces 25 years to life in prison on each murder count and 200 years in prison on the other charges.