Niagara Falls man receives 20 years for assault after teen shot and killed

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Niagara Falls man was sentenced to 20 years in prison on an assault charge after a teenager was shot and later died in the spring of 2023, according to officials.

On the morning of April 24, 2023, 16-year-old Nakhii Williams of Buffalo was shot in the lower abdomen during a drug deal gone wrong. The incident occurred on the 1300 block of Ashland Avenue in Niagara Falls.

A 41-year-old man was also shot during the incident. Williams was transported to ECMC and died later the same day.

"Putting everything else aside, the defendant was sentenced today for a gruesome assault against a 16 year old child," said Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman. "The manner in which the defendant assaulted this young man was particularly grievous and fully warrants the sentence imposed by the judge.”

Luke Vaccarella, 43, will serve his sentence after being convicted of first-degree assault.