Cheektowaga man pleads guilty to charges in shooting that killed three-year-old

The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced that 24-year-old Dequan Richardson pleaded guilty Friday in Erie County Court to one count of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

The district attorney's office said on July 5, 2021, Richardson drove to Donovan Drive in Buffalo and fired numerous shots into a crowd of people who were gathered to watch fireworks, and drove away. Four people were struck by gunfire.

Three-year-old Shaquelle Walker, Jr. , was hit in the head by a bullet. He was taken to Oishei Children’s Hospital where he died from his injuries on July 9, 2021 . Three men were also shot but survived their injuries.

Richardson and Jonay Robinson were each charged in connection to the shooting . The district attorney's office said Robinson is scheduled to go to trial on April 13.

Richardson also pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree attempted robbery and one count of unlawfully fleeing a police officer in an unrelated robbery case. He faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on both cases on May 17. He remains remanded without bail.