Two teenagers have been sentenced for the June 21, 2024, Buffalo shooting that killed 3-year-old Ramone "Red" Carter and wounded his 7-year-old sister. Jahaan Taylor, 16, received 15 years to life after a jury convicted him on murder and related charges; Elijah Mumford, 17, was sentenced to 15 years plus five years of post-release supervision for manslaughter. Police arrested the teens minutes after the shooting, and investigators say two guns were fired though only one was recovered. Local leaders and the district attorney praised the surviving child for her testimony and noted the swift police response.
Two Teenagers Sentenced After Buffalo Shooting That Killed 3-Year-Old Ramone “Red” Carter
Ramone "Red" CarterBuffalo Police Department
Two teenage defendants have been sentenced in the June 21, 2024, shooting in Buffalo that killed 3-year-old Ramone "Red" Carter and wounded his 7-year-old sister while they played outside in their neighborhood.
What Happened
According to the Erie County District Attorney's Office, the siblings were struck by gunfire at about 9:30 p.m. The boy was taken to a local hospital and later died of his wounds; his sister survived. Prosecutors say the children were not the intended targets.
Arrests and Evidence
Buffalo police arrested two teens within minutes and a few blocks of the scene — a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old — who were wearing clothing and shoes that matched eyewitness descriptions. Investigators believe two guns were fired during the incident, though only one weapon was recovered.
Charges and Sentences
On Jan. 2, Jahaan Taylor, now 16, was sentenced to 15 years to life — the maximum term allowed for a juvenile offender — after a jury in October 2025 convicted him on charges that included second-degree murder, attempted murder and related counts.
Ramone "Red" CarterBuffalo Police Department
Elijah Mumford, now 17, was convicted of first-degree manslaughter; an accompanying second-degree assault charge was later dismissed. He was denied youthful offender status and received a 15-year prison sentence followed by five years of post-release supervision.
"Ramone 'Red' Carter was an innocent victim of gun violence perpetrated by two teenagers in possession of illegal firearms," Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane said in a statement.
Community Response
Keane praised the surviving child for bravely testifying and commended responding officers who rendered aid to the boy and quickly apprehended suspects. At the sentencing, the victim's mother, Shakenya Griffin, described the profound and lasting loss she continues to feel: "I don't have my son," she told local station WKBW. "So even though they're going to be in jail, they're still living, and I don't have my son."
Former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown noted Griffin's community involvement and her work to protect other families and children as a member of the Most Valuable Parents organization.
Note: Prosecutors said the shooters approached a group of boys prior to the shooting. One teen fired an illegal weapon at the group; the bullets struck the two children. Investigators believe two weapons were used in total but recovered only one.
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