In the summer of 2009, the life of 32-year-old Shawn Kozma, a Caucasian male, was tragically cut short in Buffalo, New York. On August 14, 2009, he was shot and killed behind a residence on Reed Street. The motive for this violent act was the belief that Kozma was cooperating with the Buffalo Police Department concerning a murder that had occurred just days earlier.
The individuals responsible were members of a local gang known as the "Rounds Crew," who controlled the area around Broadway Avenue and Reed Street.
Following the murder, some members of the gang moved Kozma's body to a vacant lot on Smith Street in Buffalo. In an attempt to conceal the crime, they then set his body on fire. The investigation into his death was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Buffalo Police Department, with assistance from the Erie County District Attorney's Office. This investigation was part of a larger effort to dismantle the violent activities of the Rounds Crew.
The investigation led to the identification and prosecution of those involved in Kozma's death. Adrian Traylor, a 25-year-old member of the Rounds Crew, was convicted on racketeering charges that included his participation in the murder of Shawn Kozma. He was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison. Another individual, Lorenzo Hunt, was also charged in connection with the murder, with DNA evidence from a rifle, a rifle sling, and a towel being presented as part of the case against him. The murder of Shawn Kozma was one of three homicides that occurred amidst a violent feud between the Rounds Crew and a rival gang.
