SOURCE: Dante Richardson Working with State Police to Identify Shooter from Buffalo Bar

Niagara Action
2 hours ago
2 min read

Dante Richardson, 32-years-old, has been the subject of several recent Niagara Action articles that began after he was shot in an early morning incident on January 12th.

Publicly available information regarding the incident outlined that Richardson and his two passengers had been driving home from a bar in Buffalo, although at this time it still remains to be seen whether Richardson was drinking himself.

Investigators say that somewhere between the Vulcan Street and Sheridan Drive/Kenmore Avenue exits on the I-190 a dark-colored vehicle pulled alongside the Impala and fired multiple rounds into the driver’s side door. Police documented three bullet holes along the left side of the vehicle, with two rounds entering just below the door handle and a third penetrating near the front edge of the rear driver’s side door. Richardson was struck two times in the legs.

Richardson later told authorities that he began losing feeling in his legs, prompting his girlfriend to climb over him to take control of the vehicle and drive to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. Richardson never moved from his seat. 911 was called on their way to the hospital and police met them at the hospital.

Officers secured the vehicle and recovered a bullet from the roadway before turning the evidence over to the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Once inside the hospital, Richardson reportedly refused to cooperate with law enforcement and told officers to leave––a decision that created questions as to Richardson’s own involvement in the incident. Richardson declining to cooperate was also reported by the Niagara Gazette.

Now, Richardson has reportedly changed his mind and is cooperating with authorities to identify the suspect, according to a source familiar with the investigation. Information obtained by Niagara Action suggests that the suspect was not a random individual, but rather someone who was at the same bar Richardson was at prior to departing.

The circumstances still remain unclear, although the suspect is, according to this source, a known drug dealer. Richardson's connection with this drug dealer - if any - is unknown at this time.

State Police do have a suspect who was, according to this source, at the same bar as Richardson that night.

Richardson has had involvement and/or associations with shady characters in the past.

In 2014, he was convicted in Erie County Court of first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for a violent home invasion that occurred in Buffalo in 2012. He is considered a violent felon under New York's penal code.

Prosecutors alleged the home invasion was both calculated and violent. Once inside the home wearing masks and armed with a loaded .32 caliber pistol, Richardson and his accomplice repeatedly threatened the victim’s life while demanding money. He fled the residence when Buffalo Police arrived, escaping $10 in cash and a bag of condoms.

The Judge sentenced him to 10 years in state prison. Richardson ultimately served eight years of that sentence before being released on parole, where he remained under supervision until 2023.

Niagara Action will provide updates as they become available.