In the late evening hours of Friday, February 21, 2014, a burst of violence on a street corner in Buffalo, New York, claimed the life of 32-year-old Damone Wiggins. An African American man, Wiggins was in the vicinity of East Delavan and Schuele avenues when gunfire erupted shortly after 8:30 p.m. He was struck by the bullets, as was another man, 23-year-old Demetrius Holmes.
Both men were rushed to Erie County Medical Center for treatment. While Holmes was treated for his injuries and subsequently released, Wiggins succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead the following day. His death was one of 62 homicides recorded in Buffalo that year, a significant increase from the previous year.
In the wake of the shooting, the Buffalo Police Department opened an investigation into the killing. Detectives urged anyone with information to come forward and contact their confidential tipline. Despite their appeals to the public for assistance, no arrests have been announced in connection with the murder of Damone Wiggins. The case, like many others from that violent year in the city, remains unsolved, and the identity of any suspect or suspects has not been made public.
The lack of resolution has left a void for the family and friends of Wiggins, who mourned his passing and held funeral services for him at the True Bethel Baptist Church on February 28, 2014. His death serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence and the lingering pain for a community when justice remains elusive. The investigation into his murder is presumably still open, awaiting any new leads that might bring his killer or killers to light.
