Cheektowaga man sentenced in connection with attempted robbery, gunfight

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Cheektowaga man was sentenced Friday morning for attempting to rob a store in Cheektowaga, resulting in a gunfight, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Just before 4 p.m. on May 1, 2023, Jaquail Yamani, 30, displayed an illegal handgun at a victim working at a business on the 1100 block of Walden Ave, officials said. Yamani had entered the store wearing a face mask to pawn a laptop and a speaker. Two other unidentified individuals, also wearing face masks, entered soon after.

The victim pushed the gun away and displayed his own firearm as he retreated to the back of the store. Yamani fired the initial shot and the victim and his coworker, who was also in possession of a licensed firearm, fired back, officials said. Yamani and one of the unidentified suspects returned fire. They then fired rounds through the front window of the store to escape, according to officials.

Yamani sought medical treatment later the same day for a gunshot wound at a hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania. The victims were not injured. The two other individuals have not been identified.

Yamani pleaded guilty to all counts in the indictment against him in June.

He received a determinate sentence of five years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.