On an autumn day in Buffalo, New York, the life of 22-year-old David Skipper Jr. was tragically cut short. On October 14, 2014, Skipper was shot and killed on Erb Street, becoming a victim of a string of violent acts that would plague the city. His death marked the beginning of a series of shootings that would leave another young man dead and several others, including innocent bystanders, injured.
The investigation into Skipper's murder eventually led authorities to a teenager named
Diamond Lewis. Investigators determined that Lewis was responsible for a crime spree that spanned from October 2014 to January 2016, during which he shot a total of eight people in four separate incidents. The victims of this violence included 18-year-old Alonzo Scott, who was killed in a shooting that also resulted in another man being paralyzed. The other victims of Lewis's actions included an 18-year-old female bystander and a 13-year-old girl who was struck by a bullet while standing in a group of people.
In March 2016, at the age of 19, Diamond Lewis was arrested and faced a 19-count indictment that included two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of David Skipper Jr. and Alonzo Scott. The numerous other charges against him included assault and attempted murder. Despite his defense attorney's assertion of his innocence, Lewis was ultimately held without bail. Following a non-jury trial, a judge found him guilty on the murder charges and several other counts. For his deadly and reckless actions, Diamond Lewis was sentenced to 131 years to life in prison, ensuring that the man responsible for the death of David Skipper Jr. and the suffering of many others would be held accountable.
