Judge finds Tonawanda man guilty of assault for shooting victim during auto repair dispute

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek found Detrick D. Gray, 42, of Town of Tonawanda, guilty of one count of attempted assault in the first degree (class C violent felony), one count of assault in the second degree (class D violent felony), one count of grand larceny in the third degree (class D felony) and one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in the third degree (class A misdemeanor). Justice Wojtaszek rendered his decision this morning following a five-day trial that occurred last week.

In November 2023, the female victim took her vehicle to the defendant’s auto repair business on the 800 block of East Lovejoy Street in the City of Buffalo. The defendant, who was known to the victim, agreed to perform the repairs at the cost of $1,500. After the victim paid the sum of cash and left her vehicle at the defendant’s garage, he stopped communicating regarding the status of the repairs.

On Friday, Dec. 21, 2023, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the female victim and her boyfriend went to the defendant’s business to inquire about the vehicle. During a confrontation in the parking lot, the defendant displayed a handgun. The male victim charged toward the defendant in an attempt to redirect the weapon. The defendant attempted to cause serious physical injury to the victim by intentionally firing multiple shots from his lawfully owned and registered pistol.

The male victim was hit by gunfire. He was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he underwent surgery for gunshot wounds to his chest and shoulder. The defendant subsequently suffered a gunshot injury to his hand during the altercation. The defendant was taken to a local hospital in a private vehicle.

Gray faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced. Our prosecutor argued that the defendant should be remanded pending sentence. Judge Wojtaszek continued the defendant’s release on previously posted bail set at $20,000 cash or bond, but also ordered that he be placed under the supervision of the Probation Department and wear an ankle monitor.

Keane commends Det. Natasha Anderson and officer Joshua Evans of the Buffalo Police Department gun violence unit for their work in this investigation, as well as victim advocate Tina Pilkey, chief of the ECDA victim/witness services bureau.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Timothy J. Garvin of the major crimes bureau and Assistant District Attorney James W. Mansour II of the narcotics/intelligence bureau.