In the early morning hours of July 1, 2022, the life of 24-year-old John W. Bass was cut short in Schenectady, New York. Police were called to VibeZ Bar & Lounge on State Street at approximately 12:51 a.m., where they discovered Bass inside the establishment, dying from a single gunshot wound. Paramedics treated him at the scene before rushing him to Ellis Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injury.
Investigators later determined that the shooting had occurred outside the bar.
John W. Bass was a man known for his dedication to his community. A native of Schenectady, he was a father to a young daughter and was actively involved in local initiatives. He worked with a city councilman on an anti-bullying campaign that was later adopted by the local school district and also served as a certified lifeguard at the Schenectady Boys and Girls Club. His mother was also a prominent anti-violence advocate in the city. Bass, who was in the process of starting his own business, was remembered for his ambition and his role as a protector to those he loved.
The investigation into the shooting led to a suspect who was surprisingly familiar with the victim. Authorities identified Markeith Buchanan, also 24 at the time, as the individual responsible for Bass's death. The two had been friends since middle school, but their relationship had soured over time. On the night of the incident, a physical altercation broke out between the two men. Surveillance footage captured Bass getting the better of Buchanan in the fight. Afterward, Buchanan went to his car, retrieved a. 45-caliber handgun, and shot his former friend. After evading law enforcement for about two months, Buchanan was apprehended in early September 2022 by a joint force of U.S. Marshals and Schenectady police.
Markeith Buchanan was charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. During his trial, he claimed he acted in self-defense, an argument the jury ultimately rejected. In February 2024, the jury acquitted him of the murder charge but found him guilty of the lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Due to a prior felony conviction for robbery, Buchanan was sentenced as a repeat offender in May 2024. He received a sentence of 25 years for manslaughter and a consecutive 15-year term for one of the weapons charges, resulting in a total of 40 years in prison. Before his sentencing, Buchanan offered an apology to the family of John W. Bass.
