On a spring evening in Buffalo, New York, the life of 23-year-old Samantha Kenyetta-Evon Cothran, an African-American woman with a promising future, was tragically cut short. On May 13, 2012, just hours after a Mother's Day celebration, Samantha was leaving a house party on Minnesota Avenue with her sister when gunfire erupted. She was struck and killed, leaving a void in the lives of her family and friends.
Samantha had recently celebrated her birthday and was on the cusp of starting a new job as a pharmacist, a testament to her bright and ambitious nature.
The party, attended by an estimated 100 to 150 people, became the scene of a homicide investigation that has been hampered by a lack of cooperation from witnesses. Despite the large number of potential witnesses, no one has come forward with information that has led to an arrest. In the years that have followed, Samantha's family has been left to grapple with their loss in the absence of justice. Her mother, Melissa Bosley, has spoken of the enduring pain of losing her daughter and the frustration of knowing that people who were present at the party hold the key to solving the case.
Investigators believe Samantha's death may have been the result of a retaliatory shooting connected to local gang violence, with an individual opening fire into the crowd. The Buffalo Police Department and the FBI have been involved in the investigation, but without new leads, the case has grown cold. The lack of progress has been a source of ongoing anguish for Samantha's loved ones, who continue to plead for anyone with information to come forward. In 2019, a person who attended the party claimed to know the identity of the shooter, but this information did not lead to any developments in the case.
As of today, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Samantha Cothran. The case remains an open and active investigation, with law enforcement officials echoing the family's call for witnesses to break their silence. Samantha's family continues to honor her memory, holding onto hope that one day they will see justice served for her untimely death.
