Teen Girl Indicted for Injuring Innocent Bystander in Shooting in City's Emerson Neighborhood

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 18-year-old Cecelia Medina, also known as Cecelia Speed, of no permanent address was arraigned yesterday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes on an indictment charging her with four counts of Attempted Murder, one count of Burglary in the First Degree (Class "B" violent felonies) and one of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class "C" violent felony).

It is alleged that on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at approximately 3:20 p.m., the defendant went to a residence on the 1600 block of Bailey Avenue in the City of Buffalo where she brandished an illegal gun and briefly entered the dwelling. She allegedly fired multiple times into the home, which hit and caused serious injury to one person inside. After shooting into the home, the defendant allegedly turned the gun on a nearby vehicle and fired multiple times, which nearly hit two of the occupants.

Responding officers allegedly witnessed the defendant, who matched the description provided by the uninjured victims, in possession of what appeared to be a gun while running away from the scene of the crime. The officers allegedly recovered an illegal, loaded handgun with an extended magazine in the defendant's flight path. The handgun was submitted into evidence for further testing.

Medina is scheduled to return on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. She remains held without bail.

If convicted of the highest charge, Medina faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

"The defendant is accused of injuring an innocent bystander while firing shots at an occupied vehicle in the middle of the afternoon. Thankfully, the victim survived and no one else was injured. I commend the members of the Buffalo Police who quickly responded to the scene and apprehended the suspect. Gun-related violence will not be tolerated. I encourage anyone with information on individuals in possession of illegal weapons to contact my office or the Buffalo Police Department," said Acting Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane.

Acting DA Keane commends Detective Ryan Crespo, Detective Richard Cruz, Detective Vatasha Tibbs, Officer Michael Scheu and Officer Brian Walter for their work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Timothy J. Garvin of the Major Crimes Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.