MAYVILLE, NY -- Friday, January 12th, Kevin Roldan Pantojas of Jamestown, New York, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison after being convicted of Manslaughter in the First Degree for his role in the shooting death of Jesus Batista Perez which occurred on August 19, 2022.
The conviction and sentence is not a cause for celebration. More than 20 gunshots from two separate groups were fired in a residential neighborhood on Prendergast Avenue, during a summer afternoon, a few feet from where children played and families socialized outside their homes. That no one other than members of the feuding groups were hurt is a miracle.
Detectives from Jamestown Police responded immediately and, with assistance from the Chautauqua County Forensic Investigation Team, processed a crime scene which spanned hundreds of public roadway feet and encompassed two separate shooting events.
Jamestown Detectives spent months developing and arranging for the testing of evidence, identifying the shooters and reconstructing the order of events; their work and dedication was impeccable and exceptional.
I and my office worked tirelessly to further develop and strengthen our case, and I made every effort to work with uncooperative witnesses who were not forthcoming. This end-result of our prosecution represents the best we could achieve under the difficult circumstances of what occurred here.
At all times we do our very best to hold those who commit violent crimes responsible for their actions.
