Three Co-Defendants Indicted for Their Role in Assault of Two Homicide Victims

Friday, July 26, 2024

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 20-year-old Jaylin T. Scott of Buffalo wasarraigned yesterday morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on an indictment charging him with one count of Gang Assault in the Second Degree (Class "C" violent felony).

Earlier this week, his three co-defendants, James B. White, Jr., 22, of Buffalo, Teffany Y. Nance, 42, of Buffalo and LaShawn C. Taylor, 25, of Town of Tonawanda, were also arraigned before Judge Bargnesi. White, Taylor and Nance, who is the mother of Jaylin Scott, were also indicted on one count of Gang Assault in the Second Degree.

It is alleged that on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at approximately 8:50 a.m., the defendants, while acting in concert with one another, intentionally caused physical injuries to the victims. The defendants are accused of engaging in a physical altercation with the victims while on the front porch of a residence on East Utica Street in the City of Buffalo. The defendants are accused of fleeing together after both victims were allegedly shot by White.

The defendants were identified during the course of the investigation into the fatal shooting of John Gibson and David Honer. Our office previously announced that Whitewas indicted on one count of Murder in the First Degree, two counts of Murder in the Second Degree (Class "A-I" felonies) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class "C" violent felony).

White is accused of intentionally shooting the two victims with an illegal gun while on the front porch of a residence on East Utica Street near Main Street in the City of Buffalo. One victim, 29-year-old David Honer, died at the scene. The second victim, 24-year-old John DeShon Gibson, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was pronounced deceased.

Scott, Nance, Taylor and White are scheduled to return on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. All four defendants were held without bail.

If convicted of the highest charge, White faces a maximum sentence of life without parole. If convicted of the gang assault charge, Scott, Nance and Taylor face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Acting DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher S. Safulko of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Thomas J. Comfort of the Felony Trials Bureau.