Buffalo, NY (WBEN) A the day her trial was set to begin, Deyanna Davis entered a guilty plea to assault in an incident during the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. She admitted to driving through a police blockade, running over a state trooper.
33-year-old Deyanna Davis of Buffalo pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of assault on the day jury selection was scheduled to begin in her trial.
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Back in June 2020 during the Black Lives Matter protests, Davis drove her vehicle through a law enforcement blockade during a protest on Bailey Avenue and Decker Street. State Police Trooper Ronald Ensminger was run over, and suffered serious injuries, including a shattered pelvis and a broken leg. He was unable to return to work and retired from New York State Police because of his injuries.
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“This defendant’s reckless behavior injured a State trooper who was working to keep people safe during a protest. There were crowds of people on the streets that night and I am thankful that no one else was hurt during this incident. I hope that the victim feels that justice has been served by this defendant pleading guilty today,” said Erie County DA John Flynn.
Davis faces a maximum of 7 years in prison when she is sentenced on Wednesday, May 17th. She remains released pending sentence on a $200,000 bond previously posted in Buffalo City Court.
A loaded handgun was found inside of the defendant’s vehicle during the investigation. The weapon was reported stolen from West Seneca in January 2020. One of the passengers of the vehicle, 27-year-old Semaj T. Pigram of Buffalo, was linked to the illegal gun through DNA evidence.
Pigram pleaded guilty, as charged, to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony) on September 23, 2022. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.
A third defendant was initially charged and arraigned in Buffalo City Court. The Grand Jury voted to no bill the case against that defendant and the charge was dismissed.