SOURCE: Law Enforcement Aware Dante Richardson Made False Statements After Thruway Shooting

Dante Richardson, a violent felon who is currently under investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, per sources, is in the news again as there has been an update in a shooting he was involved with on January 12th.

Publicly available information regarding the incident outline 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.

Last week, Niagara Action reported that Richardson reportedly changed his mind and began cooperating with authorities to identify the suspect, according to a source familiar with the investigation. Niagara Action was told the suspect was not a random individual, but rather someone who was at the same bar as Richardson.

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.

However, Richardson has now continued to perpetuate false claims regarding the identity of the shooter and who, or whom, was behind it. In an article written last week by an online publication, Richardson publicly pointed the finger at two individuals - one an individual and the other a corporation - as conspiring to kill him.

This, according to sources familiar with the investigation by New York State Police, is a lie. It is not being taken seriously and neither are persons of interest.

Per source, Richardson's statements are now is being looked at by law enforcement and/or the Erie County District Attorney's Office as falsely reporting an incident under section 240.50 of the New York Penal Code.

Further concerning is that there are individuals perpetuating these false claims on social media who, according to sources, could be investigated for aiding and abetting Richardson. Niagara Action is aware of one individual who is actively being monitored by law enforcement for such statements.

Given Richardson's criminal history, sources are not surprised with his lack of candor.

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.

As the District Attorney's Office stated after the jury verdict, "Richardson claimed that he was never inside the victim’s residence when arrested by the police. At trial, Richardson proposed an alternative 'theory of defense' testifying that he had permission to enter the home from a former tenant; that he was simply collecting his friend’s belongings; and that the prosecution had 'blown this out of proportion.'  The jury quickly saw through the defendant’s lies, as evinced by their 1½ hours of deliberations, which included lunch."

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.

Richardson's tenuous relationship with the truth was on display recently with his termination from Buffalo Biodiesel earlier this month.

Richardson was fired from his employment at Buffalo Biodiesel, a Buffalo-based business that operates throughout the Northeast collecting used cooking oil from restaurants, on January 10th. According to multiple sources in the building who witnessed the termination, it was done with cause after an "outburst" with a "threat being made while being escorted out of the building by staff," according to a witness.

When Richardson was hired at Buffalo Biodiesel in December of 2025, he represented to the company – in writing – that he had various degrees. According to sources in the company, this included a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester that was mentioned in his LinkedIn and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Stanford University.

As a result, he was purportedly hired at a salary north of $125,000. Niagara Action confirmed through sources who viewed documents, one of which was publicly available on Richardson’s own LinkedIn profile, and the other written on his application, showing that he indeed purported to have these two degrees. But there’s one problem––records show he does not have any degrees.

According to a source at Buffalo Biodiesel who conducted a search through the National Student Clearinghouse, Richardson does not have a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester, nor does he have any degree whatsoever from Stanford. In fact, just to make sure they weren’t making a mistake, the company asked Richardson to sign a release for the Registrar’s office at Stanford to release transcripts––which they say he refused to sign.

Richardson fabricated his work history, the degree to which you be the judge:

Starting in February 2007 (age 13), Richardson worked as an “Apprentice” at OLV Human Services. His jobs included the cleaning crew, catering services as a cook and server, prep cook and cashier, and gift shop salesperson.

Starting in June 2008 (age 14), Richardson was hired as an “Office Manager” at OLV Human Services working FULL TIME for 15 months conducting payroll for all the youth employees.

Starting in June 2009 (age 15), Richardson participated in an internship at M&T Bank under the direct supervision of Vice President Paul Collins.

Starting in June 2010 (age 16), Richardson participated in an internship at Morgan Stanley under the direct supervision of former Senior Vice President James Sexton III.  In a phone call to OLV Human Services on January 16th, they confirmed 13-year-olds are not hired by their organization. In a phone call to M&T Bank on January 16th, they confirmed internships are not offered to 15-year-olds.  In a call with Morgan Stanley’s Williamsville Office on January 16th, they confirmed that Morgan Stanley does not accept 16-year-old interns.

Moving forward several years to when Richardson was incarcerated between 2012 and 2020, he listed consistent employment during that time. This includes as an:

Agency Partner (2012 – 2016)

MusicTech Strategist (2017-2021)

However, it is also important to pay attention to where a few of these jobs occurred after Richardson was released from state prison as he was on parole and required to remain in the area.

MusicTech Strategist (2017-2021) was listed as being in New York City, New York.

Blockchain Adviser (2021-2022) was listed as being in Palo Alto, California.

Sr. Business Management Manager (2021-2022) was listed as being in New York City, New York.

Founder-in-Residence of Bubble (2022-2023) was listed as being in New York City, New York.

Niagara Action confirmed from sources at Buffalo Biodiesel that Richardson doubled down on this work history during his interview with the company and that his resume matched information publicly viewable on his LinkedIn profile.

In essence, these sources said that his employment history is “one giant con.”

“He was convincing,” said one source. “We believe in second chances and this is the sort of person who, at least presented himself, as deserving one. He fooled us. Boy did he fool us.”

These sources independently confirmed the falsity of his work history, especially as it came to AI.

“He was hired in large part due to his assertions in expertise with AI,” said the source. “As it turned out, he knew nothing about AI except to hand in reports entirely generated by AI in an attempt to pass it as his own.”

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SOURCE: Law Enforcement Aware Dante Richardson Made False Statements After Thruway Shooting