Update: Michael Barnes, a 36-year-old Buffalo man, was charged with second degree murder and second degree criminal possession of a weapon, the Erie County District Attorney's Office announced Sept. 20. If convicted, Barnes faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.
One man is dead following a shooting that occurred early Tuesday morning on Main Street in Buffalo, less than a half mile from the University at Buffalo’s South Campus, according to city officials.
Buffalo police say they arrived at the 3100 block of Main Street — which stretches from Winspear Avenue to just past Highgate Avenue — at 1:50 a.m. on Tuesday and found the victim, who was declared deceased at the scene. Detectives believe he was struck by gunfire while sitting outside.
Tuesday’s homicide is the third to occur in University Heights — and the 30th to occur in the City of Buffalo — since the start of 2023, according to data from the city. One occurred on Main Street between Allenhurst Road and Kenmore Avenue on Aug. 7, and the other occurred on Shirley Avenue just off Bailey Avenue on Aug. 12.
The Buffalo Police Department “cleared” (or made an arrest in) just under 30% of all the homicides in 2021, according to the Murder Accountability Project, which tracks the clearance rates of police departments across the country. A 2021 Investigative Post analysis found that the BPD cleared 26% of homicides.
Buffalo police say they’re continuing to investigate Tuesday’s shooting.
Grant Ashley is the editor in chief and can be reached at grant.ashley@ubspectrum.com
Grant Ashley is the editor in chief of The Spectrum. He's also reported for NPR, WBFO, WIVB and The Buffalo News. He enjoys taking long bike rides, baking with his parents’ ingredients and recreating Bob Ross paintings in crayon. He can be found on the platform formerly known as Twitter at @Grantrashley.
