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Markeith Buchanan Indicted for 2nd Degree Murder

District Attorney

Markeith Buchanan, 24, of Schenectady, New York was arraigned on December 19, 2022 in the Schenectady County Count on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. 

The indictment was brought following a Schenectady County Grand Jury investigation into a July 1, 2022 shooting that caused the death of John Bass.  The allegation is that Buchanan shot and killed Bass after a verbal altercation turned physical at a local bar called VibeZ just before one o’clock in the morning.  After the fight, Buchanan went to his car, retrieved a gun, and fired a single shot, killing Bass.  Buchanan then fled the scene and Bass was treated medically but then was pronounced dead at Ellis Hospital. 

An indictment is just an accusatory instrument.  Buchanan is presumed innocent until such time as he may be proven guilty in a court of law.  He is entitled to all the rights of any accused person including the right to a jury trial to determine his guilt or innocence.

Buchanan appeared before the Honorable Mark J. Caruso and entered pleas of not guilty to all three counts in the indictment and was remanded without bail.  Assistant District Attorney Nicolaus McDonald is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Schenectady County Police Department with assistance of the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force in located and arresting the defendant.  Buchanan is represented by attorney Genaro Calabrese. For further information contact Assistant District Attorney Nicolaus McDonald at (518) 388-4721.