Fifth person charged in Virginia Street kidnapping
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A fifth person has been charged in an alleged kidnapping on Virginia Street in Buffalo earlier this month, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said Friday.
Dontavia McMorris, 21, is the fifth person charged in connection. It is alleged that McMorris and four other people: 25-year-old Daquel Braxton, 20-year-old Savannah Brosius, 26-year-old Jeremiah Martin and 20-year-old Raymone Wilson, kidnapped a victim for ransom and brought him to an apartment on the 500 block of Virginia on Oct. 2.
The group robbed the victim of his cell phone, backpack, wallet and debit card, shaved his head, poured bleach and boiling water on him. The victim suffered burns, welts, lacerations and bruising.
Police said the victim was located because the family had been contacted for ransom and alerted police.
The five are all charged with the following:
- first-degree kidnapping
- second-degree kidnapping
- first-degree assault
- second-degree assault
- first-degree robbery
- second-degree robbery
All five are being held and will return to court at various times in the coming weeks. If convicted of the highest count, the maximum sentence is 25 years to life in prison.
Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.