Niagara County DA announces murder sentencing, conviction in attempted murder case

Submitted by the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office

Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman announced Joshua Z. Chandler, age 24, of Lockport, was sentenced to spend the next 40 years to life in state prison. Chandler was convicted by a jury earlier this year of the crimes of murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree for a shooting July 2, 2023, in the City of Lockport, that killed 27-year-old Rakeem Hamilton and left another individual seriously injured from a bullet wound to the face.

Seaman said, “The sentence in this case ensures that a very dangerous criminal will be off the streets for a very long time.”

The case was investigated by the Lockport Police Department and prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Doreen Hoffmann and Assistant District Attorney Christine Savoia. Acting Supreme Court Justice Mario Giacobbe sentenced the defendant to 25 years to life for the murder, 10 years for assault in the first degree, and five years for the illegal gun possession, and ordered all of the sentences run consecutive to one another.

Seaman also announced a Niagara County jury returned a verdict convicting 29-year-old Jalik George of the crimes of attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. George was found guilty of gunning down a man in Niagara Falls with an illegal handgun on March 3, 2024. The man survived the gunshot wound to the torso after emergency medical intervention.

Seaman said, “This defendant has already been to state prison twice – once for a weapons and assault case, and the second time for a weapons and drugs case. He had just been released to parole and, within 10 days of release, obtained another illegal handgun and shot the victim in this case. He now qualifies as a persistent violent felony offender, and will be returning to state prison, this time for a minimum of 20 years to life.”

The case was investigated by the Niagara Falls Police Department and prosecuted by First Hoffmann and Assistant District Attorney Grace Tesmer. County Court Judge Caroline Wojtaszek will impose sentence when the defendant returns to court.