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2nd suspect arraigned in McKinley case

John Flynn, wearing a blue suit and shirt, sitting at his desk with a WBFO microphone in front of him.
Thomas O'Neil-White
/
WBFO News
Erie County District Attorney discusses the case against two minors indicted in the McKinley shooting and stabbing case

A second suspect in the McKinley shooting and stabbing case was arraigned Friday morning at the Erie County Courthouse

Attorneys for the 17-year-old suspect entered a plea of not guilty on the three felony charges, including second degree attempted murder, in connection with the violent altercation outside McKinley High School last month.

First responders converge on McKinley High School in Buffalo following the shooting of two people.
Thomas O'Neil-White
First responders converge on McKinley High School in Buffalo following the shooting of two people.

A new development in the case is the theory of intent regarding the suspect who allegedly shot a security guard. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said the change in theory makes the case easier to prosecute.

“In layman's terms, I don't have to prove that he intentionally shot at the security guard,” he said. “All I need to prove is that he shot at a group of kids and a security guard got hit.”

Both suspects are minors and Flynn said there were worries within his office the case would be heard in Family Court which case he believes justice would ultimately not have been served.

“If this matter goes a Family Court,” Flynn said of the case. “This kid walks with a slap on the wrist. The consequences are night and day. I want to do everything in my power to keep that case out of Family Court and by indicting it. I think that I made this case stay in court.”

The indictments handed down mean both suspects will be tried as adults and both were remanded to jail by the judge in the case as they await trial. A pretrial hearing is set for March 23.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Thomas moved to Western New York at the age of 14. A graduate of Buffalo State College, he majored in Communications Studies and was part of the sports staff for WBNY. When not following his beloved University of Kentucky Wildcats and Boston Red Sox, Thomas enjoys coaching youth basketball, reading Tolkien novels and seeing live music.
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