On a summer evening in Lockport, New York, a dispute escalated into a fatal act of violence that claimed the life of one man and left a woman seriously injured. The incident unfolded around 10:00 PM on July 2, 2023, at the intersection of Locust and Walnut Streets. It was there that 27-year-old Rakeem Hamilton was shot and killed.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find a chaotic situation. Hamilton was pronounced deceased at the location, having sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
A female passenger who had been in the vehicle with him was also struck by gunfire, suffering a serious wound to her face. She was quickly transported to Erie County Medical Center for urgent medical attention. The driver of the vehicle managed to escape the ordeal unharmed.
The Lockport Police Department launched an immediate and thorough investigation into the shooting. Their efforts soon led them to identify a suspect: 22-year-old Joshua Z. Chandler, also a resident of Lockport. Investigators determined that Chandler had opened fire on the vehicle occupied by Hamilton and the other two individuals. While the motive was described as a dispute with the driver, it was the passengers who bore the tragic consequences. The investigation suggested that the shooting was a targeted act, as Chandler and Hamilton were known to each other.
Following his arrest, Joshua Z. Chandler faced a series of serious charges, including second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The case proceeded to trial, where the prosecution, led by the Niagara County District Attorney's Office, presented the evidence gathered by the Lockport Police. In September 2025, a jury found Chandler guilty on all counts.
In December 2025, Joshua Z. Chandler was sentenced for his crimes. Acting Supreme Court Justice Mario Giacobbe handed down a significant prison term, ordering the sentences for each charge to be served consecutively. Chandler received 25 years to life for the murder of Rakeem Hamilton, an additional 15 years for the assault on the female victim, and another 5 years for criminal possession of a weapon, ensuring he would spend a very long time behind bars for the violence he committed that July night.
