Darius R. Spates Jr., a 42-year-old male from Buffalo, New York, affectionately known as 'CoCo,' died on May 26, 2024. In the early morning hours, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Spates was shot multiple times on the 3100 block of Main Street near Winspear Avenue in the city's University Heights neighborhood. He was transported in a private vehicle to Erie County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to his back.
Spates, born on March 16, 1982, was a graduate of
Bennett High School and was known for his passion for fixing things, his love for music, and his creative spirit. He had recently taken up sewing and was developing his own men's suit and women's clothing lines. He was a father and was described by his family as the 'life of the party,' fun, smart, and loving. His nickname, 'CoCo,' and later shortened to 'Coke,' was inspired by his unique red hair.
Following an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, Ronald T. O'Neil, 41, of Buffalo, was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting. In July 2025, O'Neil pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. By entering a guilty plea to all counts in the indictment, he admitted to intentionally firing an illegal gun at Spates.
On August 8, 2025, Ronald T. O'Neil was sentenced for the murder of Darius Spates Jr. An Erie County Court Judge sentenced him to 18 years to life in prison. O'Neil had been held without bail since his arrest.
