In the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 22, 2023, a chaotic scene unfolded in the parking lot of the 33 Speakeasy Grill in Cheektowaga, New York, that tragically ended the life of a young Buffalo man. DeAngelo Williams, a 24-year-old male, was fatally shot while reportedly trying to intervene in a large altercation.
The night's events escalated when a fight involving as many as 20 people erupted outside the Genesee Street establishment.
Williams, in an act described by his family as characteristic of his nature to do the right thing, stepped in to try and de-escalate the situation. It was then that gunshots rang out, and Williams was struck multiple times. When police arrived at the scene, they found him on the ground and immediately began life-saving efforts until paramedics could transport him to Erie County Medical Center. Despite their efforts, Williams was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation into the homicide was met with challenges from the start. Cheektowaga police reported that many of the numerous individuals present during the shooting fled the scene before they could be interviewed. In the weeks that followed, the investigation stalled. By April, the police chief announced that they had reached a 'dead end' and made a public appeal for assistance.
Williams's family, devastated by their loss, joined law enforcement in pleading for witnesses to come forward with any information that could lead to an arrest. His sister remembered him as a man who loved his family and was the 'life of the party.' To date, there has been no public announcement regarding any arrests or the identification of any suspects in the shooting death of DeAngelo Williams. The case remains an open investigation, with authorities urging anyone with information to contact them, assuring that tips can be provided anonymously.
