U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Anthony Dean, 24, of Buffalo, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm following an incident at a large street party on July 15, 2026.
According to the federal complaint, Buffalo Police and FBI agents responded about 10 p.m. to an unruly street gathering at Eddie Dawson Park on Roetzer Street. Officers say a law enforcement member observed Dean reach toward his waistband, pull out a loaded semi-automatic handgun, and attempt to flee. Responding officers chased and apprehended Dean, and during the arrest he allegedly threw the firearm, striking a New York State Police trooper in the leg. The recovered handgun was loaded.
Dean was previously convicted of a felony in Erie County Court in April 2024 and is prohibited from possessing firearms. He made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Romer on July 16 and was held pending a detention hearing scheduled for July 21, 2026.
The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler. The office credited the investigation to the Buffalo Police Department and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
This announcement is based on a federal criminal complaint. A charge is an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
