A cherished community tradition in Niagara Falls was shattered by violence on the evening of August 24, 2024, leading to the death of 43-year-old Anthony Brantley. The male victim was attending a block party at the intersection of 9th Street and Ferry Avenue, an annual event meant to be a peaceful memorial to remember lives lost in the community. At approximately 8:50 p.m., the gathering was interrupted by the sound of gunfire.
When Niagara Falls Police arrived at the scene, they found a large crowd and Brantley lying unresponsive on a front lawn, having sustained gunshot wounds to his chest. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by law enforcement, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses described a suspect, a male dressed entirely in black with a hoodie pulled over his head, seen fleeing down 9th Street after the shooting.
The investigation into Anthony Brantley's death was carried out by the Niagara Falls Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division. Their efforts included executing at least one search warrant in the neighborhood as they worked to gather evidence and identify a suspect. The case saw a significant development when a suspect was identified and apprehended.
In January 2025, it was announced that 22-year-old Rojae J. Mitchell had been apprehended in Alabama in connection with the murder. Mitchell was returned to Niagara County by the Niagara Falls Police Department and the United States Marshals Service to face charges. An indictment was unsealed, charging Mitchell with Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for his alleged role in the death of Anthony Brantley. He was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff to await further legal proceedings.
