On a summer evening in Buffalo, New York, a block party on Montana Avenue turned tragic. On July 5, 2015, Daquawn Griggs, a 21-year-old male, was fatally shot. The incident cast a pall over the East Side community, leaving family and friends to mourn his sudden and violent death. For more than two years, the case remained unsolved, with investigators working to bring justice for the young man whose life was cut short.
The break in the investigation came in November 2017.
Homicide detectives with the Buffalo Police Department arrested 27-year-old Cornelius Jones in connection with the fatal shooting. The arrest brought a renewed sense of hope to those who remembered Daquawn Griggs. Jones was initially charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon, marking a significant step forward in the long-standing case.
In August 2018, the legal proceedings came to a conclusion. Cornelius Jones pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter for his role in the death of Daquawn Griggs. By accepting the plea, Jones admitted his responsibility in the shooting that occurred at the community gathering three years prior. Following his guilty plea, he faced a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison, bringing a measure of closure to a painful chapter for the victim's loved ones and the city of Buffalo.
