Guilty Plea Entered by Buffalo Gunman in Attempted Murder of Police Officers

Guilty Plea Entered by Buffalo Gunman in Attempted Murder of Police Officers
judge with gavel, stock photo.

BUFFALO, NY – Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced on Monday, that 29-year-old Kente Q. Bell of Buffalo pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to three counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (Class “B” violent felonies) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon of Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony). Bell pleaded guilty to the charges in full satisfaction of the indictment against him.

On March 29, 2022, at approximately 6:00 p.m., Buffalo Police officers on routine patrol saw Bell driving a vehicle with tinted windows on West Ferry Street near Niagara Street.

The officers initiated a traffic stop and approached Bell’s vehicle, which was parked in Broderick Park. After discovering that he was driving with a suspended registration, Bell drove off, leading to a high-speed pursuit.

During the chase, a female passenger jumped from Bell’s vehicle on Military Road near Glor Street and was detained by police. Bell continued to drive recklessly onto the Scajaquada Expressway and Kensington Expressway before exiting onto Bailey Avenue. While driving on Bailey Avenue near Langfield Avenue, Bell fired shots at the police officers, injuring one in the arm.

He continued to shoot at officers near Arden Avenue before crashing into a billboard pole on East Ferry Street near Fillmore Avenue. After the crash, Bell continued to fire shots, and Buffalo Police returned fire, injuring him. He was later treated at ECMC for injuries to his hand, shoulder, and lower extremities.