On a Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, New York, 30-year-old John R. 'Rico' Walker, Jr. was seated in a vehicle at a stoplight at the intersection of William and Hickory Streets. It was approximately 2:14 p.m. on October 16, 2022, when the scene was shattered by gunfire. A man, later identified as Mujihad Miller, discharged an illegal handgun, striking Walker in the head. Walker was rushed to Erie County Medical Center, unconscious and in critical condition.
He succumbed to his injuries a few days later, with reports indicating his death on either October 19 or October 21, 2022.
The investigation into the shooting led police to 44-year-old Mujihad Miller of Buffalo. In February 2023, Miller was arraigned on charges of murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon. He was held without bail. Initially, Crime Stoppers of WNY had offered a reward of up to $7,500 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case.
On November 16, 2023, Mujihad Miller, then 45, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of Manslaughter in the First Degree. By his plea, he admitted to his role in the fatal shooting of John 'Rico' Walker, Jr. On February 1, 2024, a judge sentenced Miller to 23 years in prison for the crime. Following his prison term, he will be subject to five years of post-release supervision.
