Buffalo man sentenced to 25 years to life for fatal shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for a fatal shooting last year on William Street in Buffalo, according to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.

Officials said 32-year-old Mikel L. Lowe, of Buffalo, shot 36-year-old Deval Watkins with an illegal handgun in a parking lot on the 400 block of William, near Jefferson Avenue in April 2025.

Watkins died at the scene. In August 2026, a jury found Lowe guilty of one count of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Jurors came to their decision after a five-day trial and approximately 10 hours of deliberation, convicting Lowe of all counts in the indictment.

Gabriella Baiano has been a digital producer with WIVB since November 2025. View more of her work here.