Two Teens Sentenced for Fatal Shooting of 3-Year-Old in Buffalo

A tragic incident in Buffalo, New York, resulted in the sentencing of two teenagers for the fatal shooting of a three-year-old boy, Ramone ‘Red’ Carter, while he was playing outside. On June 21, 2024, at approximately 21:30, Ramone was shot in the back as he rode his tricycle, and he later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. His seven-year-old sister was also injured but survived the attack.

According to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, the two suspects, a 14-year-old male named Jahaan Taylor and a 16-year-old male named Elijah Mumford, were apprehended shortly after the shooting, just a few blocks from the scene. They matched the descriptions provided by witnesses, and an illegal handgun was recovered from one of the teens.

Details of the Shooting and Convictions

The investigation revealed that Carter and his sister were not the intended targets. The teenagers had confronted a group of young men and opened fire, inadvertently striking the siblings. After a four-day trial in October 2025, a jury deliberated for five hours before reaching a verdict. Taylor was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison, the maximum penalty for a juvenile offender. He was found guilty of several charges, including one count of Second-Degree Murder and one count of Attempted Murder.

Mumford, now 17 years old, received a sentence of 15 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He was convicted of Manslaughter in the First Degree and Assault in the Second Degree, while one assault charge against him was dismissed.

Reactions from Family and Officials

District Attorney Mike Keane expressed his condolences, stating, “Ramone ‘Red’ Carter was an innocent victim of gun violence perpetrated by two teenagers in possession of illegal firearms.” He commended the surviving sister for her bravery in testifying and highlighted the efforts of the police who responded to the scene.

In the wake of the sentencing, Ramone’s mother, Shakenya Griffin, shared her profound grief. “I don’t have my son. So even though they’re going to be in jail, they’re still living, and I don’t have my son,” she said. Griffin emphasized the emotional void left by her son’s death and lamented the loss of her cherished child.

Ramone’s older sister, Shakria Campbell, expressed her devastation, describing her brother as “like a son to me.” She reflected on how she wished she could have been there to protect him and shared her poignant memories of his dimples and red hair, emphasizing the deep personal loss felt by the family.

This case highlights the tragic impact of gun violence on families and communities, particularly when innocent children become victims. The sentences handed down to Taylor and Mumford underscore the serious consequences of such actions while leaving a community to mourn the loss of a young life.