Keane on break in murder investigation of Buffalo 3-year-old: 'We got help from the community'

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "It's a horrible tragedy all the way around," said Acting Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane during an appearance on WBEN on Wednesday regarding the Friday shooting in the City of Buffalo that killed 3-year-old Ramone Carter. "14- and 16-year-old kids are running around with guns and killed an innocent 3-year-old boy. It's horrible for the family, and shocking for the community."

Keane says his office and Buffalo Police worked around the clock, with no resources spared, to get to a quick resolution, at least to this point.

"The most important thing in this case is that we got help from the community. There are almost always witnesses in cases like this, but we don't always get cooperation. In this case we did and it's critical," he said.

Prosecutors are moving forward with murder charges for the two boys.

Because of their age, does it mean that the parents could be under investigation, similar to parents of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley?
Jennifer and James Crumbley were each sentenced to 10 years in prison.

"We do not have a statute in New York State where we can prosecute the parents of these boys for accomplice liability," Keane said.

"The 16-year-old is an adolescent offender. He is facing the same sentence as an adult, a maximum of 25 years-to-life in prison. The 14-year-old is a juvenile offender, and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years-to-life."

Both cases will move forward in the youth part of State Supreme Court.

There were two weapons involved, a pistol and a revolver. How many shots were fired and who fired the shot that killed the little boy is part of the evidence that, Keane said, he doesn't want to get into right now.

"But they both had guns and we think the proof is going to establish that they both were firing those guns," he said.