Guilty plea in attempted robbery and shots fired at police

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) A Buffalo man admits to pulling the trigger during an attempted robbery, with shots fired at Buffalo Police officers.

43 year old Dejuan Williams pleaded guilty to 12 counts, including attempted murder, attempted assault, attempted robbery and weapons possession.

Prosecutors say on April 15., two on-duty Buffalo Police officers went to a convenience store on the corner of Prospect Avenue and Connecticut Street as customers. As the officers approached the entrance, they saw an armed robbery in progress inside the store. When Williams saw the officers, he opened the door and fired a shot toward one of the officers outside of the building. The other officer subsequently discharged their firearm, striking Williams.

Prosecutors say Williams tried to steal cash and cigarettes from the store while armed with a deadly weapon. Prior to the arrival of the police officers, he shot the clerk, a 24 year old man, striking him in the upper leg. The victim was treated and released at ECMC.

After he fired a shot at the officer, prosecutors say Williams ran south on Prospect Avenue where he carjacked a vehicle, and recklessly drove the stolen vehicle northbound on Prospect Avenue for several blocks before crashing into multiple unoccupied parked vehicles near Massachusetts Avenue. Responding officers performed life-saving measures until Williams was rushed to ECMC where he received treatment for an injury to his arm.

Neither of the officers were injured during the incident. A weapon was recovered from the store’s parking lot and placed into evidence.

Our office previously announced that after a conducting a review of this officer-involved shooting incident, it was determined that the actions of both police officers were justified. The member of the Buffalo Police Department who fired the shots that resulted in injuries to the defendant was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.

Williams also entered a guilty plea in a separate indictment. During the early morning of Saturday, April 4, 2026, he struck the victim with a knife during an altercation on Tacoma Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim was transported to ECMC to be treated for an injury to his left arm. Wiliams entered a guilty plea to one count of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree (Class E felony) in full satisfaction of the indictment.

Williams, who remains held without bail, is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 9:30 a.m. The Court committed to a sentence of 20 years to life in prison as a persistent felony offender.