Gunman sentenced for shooting victim on Buffalo's East Side

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced Charles I. Hooks, also known as Charles Hooks III, 45, of Buffalo, was sentenced Tuesday morning before State Supreme Court Justice Betty Calvo-Torres. He received a determinate sentence of seven years in prison followed by three years of post-release supervision.

On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the defendant attempted to cause the death of the victim by intentionally shooting him with an illegal pistol during an argument on the 300 block of Reed Street in the City of Buffalo. The victim was hit by gunfire once in the leg. The defendant continued to fire shots toward the victim as he ran for help. The victim, a 26-year-old male, was taken by ambulance to ECMC. The defendant was later arrested by Buffalo Police on April 29, 2024.

Hooks pleaded guilty one count of attempted murder in the second degree (class “B” violent felony), one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (class “C” violent felony) and one count of assault in the second degree (class “D” violent felony). The defendant pleaded guilty, as charged, to all counts in the indictment in April 2025. As part of the sentencing proceeding, a final order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim, which remains in effect until June 2040.

Keane commends Lt. Jonathan Pietrzak, Det. Christopher Schafer, Det. Richard Cruz and Det. Jennifer Whitaker of the Buffalo Police Department, as well as the Erie County Crime Analysis Center for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan M. Flaherty of the major crimes bureau and Chief Noha A. Elnakib of the “Raise the Age”/motor vehicle theft insurance fraud unit.