Buffalo Man Facing Felony For Threatening To Kill Church Members

A Buffalo man has been arraigned for threatening to kill the pastor and congregation of a local church. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that Roberto E. Echevarria was arraigned today, January 4, 2022, before Judge Keane. The 29-year-old is facing a felony charge of Making a Terroristic Threat.

On Sunday, December 19, 2021, at about a quarter till 1 pm, Echevarria allegedly threatened to kill the pastor and members of a church on Lafayette Avenue. After the disturbance, he left the church without following through on the threat.

Echevarria is due back in court on Monday, January 10, 2022, at 9:30 am. He was released on his own recognizance. The judge issued an order of protection against Echevarria on behalf of the pastor. He is facing a maximum of 7 years behind bars if he is convicted of the felony charge.

57 People Killed in Buffalo By Guns This Year

It's no secret that Buffalo has been plagued by gun violence for years. We actually had the highest rate of violent crimes committed with guns in the state. Some people in the community want the media to stay silent about gun violence in our communities. I've heard from people who are more upset with me and the media for covering gun violence and deaths it causes, than the people who are actually committing the crimes. I believe it's important to expose just how tragic and problematic gun violence is so we can find solutions to end the killing. We are losing mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and children to this epidemic. It not only affects those who choose that lifestyle, but many innocent bystanders have lost their lives. Families and communities alike are being destroyed by the deadly decisions of just a small percentage of people. This year alone, we lost at least 57 people to gun violence. Those 57 people have families and friends who must now deal with those losses. You can read more about each incident here.