In the autumn of 2009, a burst of violence on a Friday night in Buffalo, New York, tragically cut short the life of 17-year-old David J. Hyshaw, a Black male. On the evening of October 9th, Hyshaw was with another teenager, 16-year-old Dewey A. Taylor, on Fillmore Avenue. As they stood in front of a house, at least three unidentified males, also described as Black and wearing dark clothing, approached them on foot and opened fire.
The sudden attack left Hyshaw with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Emergency responders found Hyshaw on an East Ferry Street sidewalk and attempted to revive him, but his injuries were too severe. He was rushed to Erie County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Taylor was also struck by the gunfire, sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg, but he survived the encounter.
In the immediate aftermath, Buffalo police launched an investigation into the shooting. Detectives sought information from the public, urging anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward. The suspects, who fled the scene on foot, remained at large. The description of at least three Black males in dark clothing was the primary lead released to the community. Despite the public appeal for information, details regarding any arrests, charges, trials, or convictions in connection with the murder of David Hyshaw have not been made publicly available. The case was one of several violent incidents that occurred in the city that same night, leaving a community searching for answers and grappling with the senseless loss of a young life.
