Buffalo Man Going To Prison For 18 Years For Firing Gun At Police

A Buffalo man will spend 18 years in prison for firing a weapon at police. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that the 21-year-old man was sentenced on the afternoon of Friday, May 13, 2022, before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio. After Pablo E. Alicea completes his 18-year sentence, he will serve 5 years of post-release supervision.

On February 28, 2022, he pleaded guilty to the following charges:

- One count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (Class “B” violent felony)
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony)
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (Class “B” felony)

Buffalo Police attempted to execute a search warrant at Alicea's home, located on the 2000 block of Niagara Street, on May 18, 2020. As police were entering his residence, he jumped out of a first-floor window and ran into a member of the Buffalo Police SWAT Team. Using an illegal weapon, Alicea fired a shot at the SWAT officer. The officer fired back, but no one was injured. The defendant gave chase but was apprehended. Police found cocaine inside his home.

Another man, 42-year-old Cesarae Thomas of Buffalo, was also arrested during the raid. He was found to be carrying an illegal loaded gun also. Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree on January 27, 2022. He will be sentenced on August 11, 2022, at 10 am and is facing 3.5 to 7 years in prison.