North Tonawanda Man Sentenced for Fatally Shooting Victim at Age 16

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Moteiff J. Wafer-Collins, 21, of North Tonawanda, was sentenced yesterday morning before Youth Part Judge Brenda Freedman. Wafer-Collins was denied youthful offender adjudication and received a determinate sentence of 16 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the adolescent offender shot the victim with an illegal gun on the 100 block of Laird Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 19-year-old Donovan M. Miller, was pronounced dead at the scene. As Wafer-Collins was 16-years-old at the time of the homicide, he was prosecuted as an adolescent offender in the Youth Part of Superior Court.

In February 2026, Wafer-Collins pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class B violent felony). He entered a guilty plea to the charge in full satisfaction of the indictment.

DA Keane commends Detective Judy Walker of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Unit for her work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank A. Strano of the Homicide Bureau.