On a spring morning in Buffalo, New York, a life was tragically cut short in a burst of violence. On April 23, 2020, at approximately 10:35 a.m., Andr’a C. Austin, a 22-year-old man, was backing his vehicle out of a driveway on Langmeyer Avenue when he was ambushed. A man approached the car and opened fire, striking Austin multiple times with an illegal handgun.
In a desperate attempt to escape his attacker, Austin tried to drive away but tragically crashed his vehicle into a nearby light pole. The young man succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the cold-blooded shooting.
The investigation into the murder led Buffalo Police to 33-year-old Jahond Taylor, who also went by the aliases Jahaan Taylor, Johond Taylor, and Jahond Tay. Later that same day, at around 9:09 p.m., officers pulled Taylor over for a traffic violation after he failed to signal before turning into a gas station at the intersection of East Ferry Street and Jefferson Avenue. During the stop, Taylor admitted to possessing marijuana and handed a vial of it to the officers. This admission prompted a search of his vehicle, which uncovered an unloaded illegal pistol, magazines, and ammunition hidden in a bag under the driver's seat. This discovery would prove to be a crucial piece of evidence linking him to the morning's fatal shooting.
Initially, Taylor was arraigned in Buffalo City Court on the gun charge and held without bail. As the homicide investigation progressed, he was indicted on charges of Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. He remained held without bail as the case moved through the legal system. As his trial was set to begin with jury selection underway, Jahond Taylor chose to plead guilty to reduced charges. On March 8, 2024, the now 35-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. Subsequently, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision.
