Wyandotte, Buffalo Courts Convict Men in 2022-24 Double Murders

Several recent criminal cases highlight outcomes involving violent crimes across different regions. In Wyandotte County, Patrick Howard Jr. was convicted of second-degree murder for the 2022 killings of two teenagers and sentenced to 27 years in prison. In Erie County, Dale O. Cummings was found guilty of first-degree murder and weapon possession for fatally shooting two handymen in a vacant Buffalo home in April 2024 and faces life without parole. Conversely, Shariff L. Shadwick was acquitted by a Buffalo jury of attempted murder and assault charges after questioning the credibility of the police officer's testimony. Additionally, Carlos Villanueva of Yonkers pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for a 2024 fatal shooting outside a bar, receiving a 21-year prison term. These cases underscore ongoing judicial proceedings addressing serious violence in their respective communities.