On a late summer day in Buffalo, New York, the life of 28-year-old Timothy Goodwin was tragically cut short. On August 30, 2015, Goodwin, a male, was shot and killed on Crossman Avenue. His death prompted an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department that would soon lead to a suspect.
The individual identified in connection with the shooting was 18-year-old Rashawn Austin. In the days following Goodwin's death, Austin turned himself in to the authorities.
He was subsequently arrested and faced a serious charge for his alleged role in the incident. The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced that Austin had been indicted on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
As the case proceeded through the legal system, a development occurred that would alter the course of the prosecution. Rather than going to trial on the murder charge, Rashawn Austin entered into a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter.
On January 6, 2016, Rashawn C. Austin was convicted of first-degree manslaughter for the death of Timothy Goodwin. He was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in state prison, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision. An appeal was later filed in his case, and in a decision dated June 8, 2018, the appellate court affirmed the judgment of the Erie County Court. The court noted that Austin had been denied youthful offender status due to the seriousness of the crime.
