Former Buffalo Firefighter Sentenced To Prison For Murder Over Auto Repairs

A former Buffalo firefighter has been sentenced for the fatal shooting of an auto mechanic. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that the 25-year-old man was sentenced on the morning of Thursday, June 23, 2022, before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi. Blake M. Banks was given a determinate sentence of 23 years behind bars. After he is released, he will spend 5-years on post-release supervision. Banks pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree on May 6, 2022.

The defendant, who was not on duty at the time, got into an argument with the victim, who was an auto mechanic, over work on a vehicle on July 20, 2021, at approximately 1:00 pm. The victim, 40-year-old Jason Johnson, was unarmed and walking away when Banks shot him in his back and left foot. The deadly incident happened on Broadway near Bennett Street in Buffalo. Johnson tried to get in his car and drive away but crashed his vehicle nearby. He was transported by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

57 People Killed in Buffalo By Guns In 2021

In 2021 alone, we lost at least 57 people to gun violence. Those 57 people have families and friends who must now deal with those losses. Here are the incidents (This may not be all of the fatal shootings, but it is a very comprehensive list):

If you have any information that will help police solve these cases, please contact the Buffalo Police Department's confidential tip line at (716) 847-2255.

January 8, 2021 - 2 Victims (Murder-Suicide)
Riverview Place in Buffalo

January 10, 2021 - 1 Victim
Geary Street in Buffalo

A 63-year-old man was murdered in an apartment on Geary Street. A suspect was arrested and arraigned.

January 18, 2021 - 2 Victims
Krupp Street in Buffalo

Police found a man and a woman shot to death on Krupp Street. The double homicide is unsolved at this time.

January 19, 2021 - 1 Victim
Doat Street in Buffalo

A 26-year-old man was arraigned on a murder charge in the death of the 35-year-old, who was shot multiple times inside a convenience store.

January 22, 2021 - 1 Victim
Bickford Avenue in Buffalo

A 29-year-old man was struck by bullets and died at the scene on Bickford Ave.

January 23, 2021 - 1 Victim
Delaware Avenue in Buffalo

A 31-year-old man was shot inside the Embassy Suites Hotel. He was taken to Erie County Medical Center where he succumb to his injuries.

February 7, 2021 - 1 Victim
Glenwood Avenue in Buffalo

A 27-year-old man was shot at a large gathering on Glenwood. He was taken to ECMC, where he died from his injuries. A 24-year-old man was also shot but survived.

February 24, 2021 - 1 Victim
Niagara Street and Farmer Street in Buffalo

A 33-year-old man was shot and killed while sitting in a vehicle. A 26-year-old who was also in the vehicle was grazed by a bullet.

March 1, 2021 - 1 Victim
Hertel Avenue in Buffalo

A 26-year-old man was shot multiple times and died at ECMC.

March 14, 2021 - 1 Victim
Johnson Street in Buffalo

A 29-year-old was shot in a vehicle on Johnson. A 31-year-old man and 22-year-old woman, who allegedly lured the victim to the location, were arraigned in the shooting.

March 24, 2021 - 1 Victim
Mills Street in Buffalo

A 26-year-old man, who had been shot, was found deceased on Mills.

March 29, 2021 - 1 Victim
C Street in Buffalo

A 20-year-old Lockport man was shot and killed on C Street. An 18-year-old male and a juvenile were arraigned in the murder-robbery. The adult suspect was found in Georgia.

April 3, 2021 - 1 Victim
Sweeney Street in Buffalo

A 23-year-old was fatally shot on Sweeney Street. A 26-year-old man was shot as well but survived.

April 6, 2021 - 1 Victim
100 block of Wakefield Avenue in Buffalo

April 9, 2021 - 1 Victim
Montana Avenue in Buffalo

A 21-year-old man suffered multiple gunshots. He was taken to ECMC where he later died.

April 9, 2021 - 1 Victim
Freund Street in Buffalo

A 28-year-old man was shot multiple times with a high-powered weapon and died at the scene.

April 12, 2021 - 1 Victim
7th Street in Buffalo

a 24-year-old man was shot in the parking lot at the Pine Harbor Apartments. He died at the scene.

April 19, 2021 - 1 Victim
Walden Avenue in Buffalo

A 20-year-old man was shot at a large gathering, along with a 38-year-old woman. The man was taken to ECMC where he succumbed to his injuries.

April 24, 2021 - 1 Victim
E. Delavan Avenue and Grider Street in Buffalo

A 38-year-old man was shot while pumping gas. The suspect was attempting to rob the victim. A 27-year-old man was arraigned for the murder-robbery.

April 29, 2021 - 1 Victim
Stevenson Street in Buffalo

A 31-year-old man was shot in what police described as a domestic incident. He was taken to Mercy Hospital where he died. A 15-year-old male was arraigned in the murder.

April 30, 2021 - 1 Victim
Lombard Street in Buffalo

A 66-year-old Buffalo man was shot and died at the scene.

May 10, 2021 - 1 Victim
Progressive Avenue in Buffalo

A 23-year-old man was shot on Progressive Ave. He was transported to ECMC where h died.

May 11, 2021 - 1 Victim
Theodore Street in Buffalo

A man was shot and killed on Theodore Street.

May 16, 2021 - 1 Victim
Grimes Street in Buffalo

A 48-year-old man was shot and died at the scene.

May 19, 2021 - 1 Victim
Bailey Avenue in Buffalo

A 22-year-old man was shot and killed in the LaSalle neighborhood.

May 20, 2021 - 3 Victims (Murder-Suicide)
Walden Avenue in Buffalo

A 27-year-old woman and a 67-year-old woman were shot to death in a murder-suicide. The 36-year-old suspect killed himself.

May 22, 2021 - 1 Victim
Burgard Place in Buffalo

A 29-year-old man was shot multiple times and died at the scene. A 24-year-old man was also shot. He was taken to ECMC, where he was treated.

May 28, 2021 - 1 Victim
Bissell Avenue in Buffalo

A 26-year-old woman was shot on Bissell. She was taken to ECMC where she died from her injuries.

June 10, 2021 - 1 Victim
Grider Street in Buffalo

A 25-year-old man was shot while he sat on a porch of a home on Grider. He lated died at ECMC.

June 18, 2021 - 1 Victim
Hobart Street in Buffalo

A 22-year-old man was shot in the chest in an apartment on Hobart Street. The victim died at the scene. A 23-year-old man was arraigned on a charge of manslaughter in the case.

June 24, 2021 - 3 Victims
Ashley Street in Buffalo

Police say the shooting was a targeted incident. Three victims were found dead in a home on Ashley.

June 25, 2021 - 1 Victim
French Street in Buffalo

A 32-year-old man was shot during what police describe as a large gathering between Fillmore Avenue and Kehr Street on French Street. He was taken to ECMC, where he died.

June 27, 2021 - 1 Victim
N. Ogden Street in Buffalo

A 27-year-old man was shot multiple times, in what police believe was a targeted murder.

June 27, 2021 - 1 Victim
Playter Street and Kent Street in Buffalo

A man was found shot to death at the scene.

July 5, 2021 - 1 Victim
Donovan Drive in Buffalo

A 3-year-old boy died and three other people were shot on Donovan Drive. A 22-year-old and a 25-year-old were indicted in the murder and shooting.

July 21, 2021 - 1 Victim
Broadway Street in Buffalo

A 40-year-old man was shot during a dispute. He tried to drive away after being shot but crashed. He was transported to ECMC, where he succumbed to his injuries. A 24-year-old man was arraigned for the murder.

July 24, 2021 - 1 Victim
Lasalle Avenue in Buffalo

A 29-year-old man was shot and killed on Lasalle during what police described as a party. Two other men were shot - a 25-year-old and a 26-year-old, who were injured, but survived.

August 16, 2021 - 1 Victim
Page Street and Lawn Avenue in Buffalo

A 17-year-old girl was shot in the Black Rock neighborhood. Her family said she was walking back to her 3-year-old cousin's birthday party from a store when she was shot. They said a fight had broken out at Page Street and Lawn Avenue. She was taken to ECMC, where she died of her injuries.

August 23, 2021 - 1 Victim
Hirschbeck Street in Buffalo

A man who had been shot multiple times was found deceased inside a house on Hirshbeck Street.

August 29, 2021 - 1 Victim
Montana Avenue in Buffalo

A 27-year-old man was shot on Montana Ave and transported to ECMC, where he later died.

August 30, 2021 - 1 Victim
Parkside Avenue in Buffalo

A 26-year-old man was shot to death while he was playing basketball in Delaware Park.

September 30, 2021 - 1 Victim
Norfolk Avenue in Buffalo

After a month with no murders, a man was shot inside a home on Norfolk Avenue.

October 1, 2021 - 1 Victim
Oberlin Avenue in Buffalo

A 27-year-old man was killed in what police described as a targeted shooting. The male victim was shot multiple times and died at the scene.

October 5, 2021 - 1 Victim
Laird Avenue in Buffalo

A man was shot and killed on Laird Avenue, between Tonawanda Street and Condon Avenue.

October 20, 2021 - 1 Victim
Lisbon Street and Bailey Avenue in Buffalo

A 17-year-old girl was shot while she was sitting in the front seat passenger of a van.

October 23, 2021 - 1 Victim
West Utica Street and Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo

A 22-year-old Buffalo man was shot and died at the scene.

November 2, 2021 - 1 Victim
Keppel Street in Buffalo

A 30-year-old man was shot on Keppel Street and died at the scene.

November 13, 2021 - 1 Victim
Wadsworth Street in Buffalo

Two people were shot on Wadsworth Street. A 43-year-old man died after being shot in a vehicle. A 34-year-old man was injured in the shooting.

November 21, 2021 - 1 Victim
Highgate Avenue in Buffalo

A 90-year-old woman was found shot to death in her living room. Her 40-year-old grandaughter has been indicted in connection to the shooting.

December 18, 2021 - 1 Victim
Dartmouth Avenue in Buffalo

A 41-year-old man was shot and killed on Dartmouth Avenue.

December 19, 2021 - 1 Victim
Northampton Street and Humboldt Parkway in Buffalo

An 18-year-old woman and 16-year-old girl were shot while they were inside a vehicle. The 18-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital.

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