In the late evening hours of a Tuesday in Buffalo, New York, the life of 25-year-old Norbert Guzman Tapia was tragically cut short. On August 27, 2019, shots rang out around 9:30 p.m. at the Shaffer Village Apartments near Ontario Street in the city's Riverside neighborhood. Responders found that Tapia had been shot outside of an apartment on Upper East Lane. He was rushed to Erie County Medical Center to be treated for his injuries, but he ultimately succumbed to the gunshot wounds.
The day after the fatal shooting, Buffalo Police announced they had made an arrest in connection with the death of Norbert Guzman Tapia. The suspect was identified as 26-year-old Juan Ayala, who was subsequently charged with murder. Ayala, whose full name is Juan Ayala-Colon, would later have his case move through the justice system. In December of that same year, Ayala-Colon pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter in the first degree.
In February 2020, Juan Ayala-Colon, then 27, was sentenced for his role in the killing of Norbert Guzman Tapia. A judge sentenced him to 18 years in prison. Following his incarceration, Ayala-Colon will be subject to five years of post-release supervision.
