James McCloskey, 54, was walking down Arkansas Street in Buffalo after midnight on August 17, 2015, pushing a shopping cart of cans when he was attacked. Two brothers, 20-year-old German Rosado-Thomas and 16-year-old Alvin Marrero, confronted him in an attempted robbery. Surveillance footage shows Alvin striking McCloskey in the head with a fake gun, German pistol-whipping him, then shooting him in the abdomen. McCloskey was taken to Erie County Medical Center and later died of his injuries; nothing was taken from him.

Buffalo Police Homicide Unit and the Erie County District Attorney’s office investigated and arrested both brothers; Marrero was charged as an adult. Both were initially charged with second-degree murder and in March 2016 pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the 1st Degree. They were facing sentencing in May 2016 with potential exposure up to 25 years in prison.

If anyone has information about that night or knew James, please share what you know.