BUFFALO, N.Y. — A Buffalo man has pleaded guilty to multiple charges in connection with a deadly shooting on the city's East Side last June.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office says Nakeem D. Haynes, 28, pleaded guilty Wednesday morning in State Supreme Court to second-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of criminal possession of a weapon
Prosecutors say on Friday, June 17, Haynes shot and killed Atlas Johnson, 63, in the area of Broadway and Sears Street in Buffalo, outside a Maytag Laundromat.
Buffalo Police Officers were on routine patrol when the homicide occurred, and according to Erie County District Attorney John Flynn saw Haynes with a gun in hand after the shooting.
"You literally had the officers roll up on the initial homicide which hardly ever takes place," Flynn said.
Another piece of surveillance video from a nearby building also showed the murder Flynn said. In addition to that evidence, police body camera video also reportedly captured Haynes rolling over the hood of the patrol vehicle driven by Officers Jake Michienzi and Hao Tran.
During that exchange, a bullet fired and went through the windshield of the patrol vehicle and hit an officer's gun holster. Neither was hurt, however.
Haynes is then seen in Officer Michienzi's body camera video repeatedly shooting back at police as he was chased on foot. He was eventually shot by officers and arrested on Playter Street.
The Laundromat where Johnson worked and was later shot outside, at Broadway and Sears Street, still has a memorial outside for him months after his death.
Flynn said Johnson was a standup guy who looked after his neighborhood, while Haynes was a known gang member and the two had "beef."
"By being kind of the neighborhood watch guy and Mr. Haynes being from that neighborhood and involved in a gang in that neighborhood they clashed," Flynn said.
Shawntrice Harper a friend of Johnson's told 2 On Your Side that while he is now in heaven Haynes' guilty plea brings some semblance of justice.
"He was just calm, cool, funny, talkative. He'd just say hi to everybody I miss him dearly," Harper said.
The plea was unexpected Flynn added as Haynes was set to stand trial in a couple of weeks. He faces a maximum of 80 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on March 27. He is being held without bail.