NY NY - Ernest 'Bobby' Crawford, 30, Buffalo, 22 Dec 1995

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Cold Case Files: No motive ever found for 1995 Christmas murder

Ernest “Bobby” Crawford Jr., a Buffalo native who found success as a music producer in New York City, had come back to Buffalo with his wife, Etsuko, and their three young children. After putting his kids to bed at his mother’s home on Glenwood, Crawford went outside to start his mother’s car. He planned to meet up with a Buffalo cousin he had not seen in four years.

As the 30-year-old Crawford got into the vehicle at about 12:40 a.m. Dec. 22, someone shot him twice in the face. He collapsed and died in his mother’s driveway.

A witness saw two young men running away into the night.

Nearly 21 years later, members of a Buffalo Police Cold Case Squad are still hoping to find a lead that helps them solve the murder.

“No motive for this crime has ever been found,” Detective Mary Evans said earlier this month. “To this date, we’ve never found anything that indicates this man was targeted for any reason. He had just arrived from out of town with his wife and kids.”

Police found no evidence that anyone in Buffalo had any reason to harm him. There was no robbery. Whoever shot him did not steal his wallet or anything else.

From the first day of the investigation, detectives have theorized that Crawford may have been the random target of two young thrill-seeking gunmen. Police believe the same two gunmen may have been responsible for attempts to shoot two motorists on nearby Humboldt Parkway, just minutes before Crawford was shot.

“We had three very similar incidents, apparently with the same two suspects involved, over a span of 23 minutes,” Homicide Bureau Chief Charles T. Fieramusca Jr., told The Buffalo News hours after the murder.

Police also acknowledged that Crawford – who had lived away from Buffalo for years before the shooting – could have been mistaken for someone else.

Random shootings do occur, but they are exceedingly rare, Evans said.

Essentially, the investigation is at a standstill. That is why detectives are asking anyone with information about the crime to come forward.

 

[dotr]

2021 rbbm

Cold Case Files: No motive ever found for 1995 Christmas murder

Members of a Buffalo Police Cold Case Squad are still hoping to solve the murder of Ernest “Bobby” Crawford Jr., a music producer and Buffalo native who died while visiting

buffalonews.com

By Dan Herbeck
''Christmas 1995 was supposed to be one of the best holidays ever for the Crawford family on Buffalo’s Glenwood Avenue. Relatives were arriving from several states. Some hadn’t seen their Buffalo family members in years.
Ernest “Bobby” Crawford Jr., a Buffalo native who found success as a music producer in New York City, had come back to Buffalo with his wife, Etsuko, and their three young children. After putting his kids to bed at his mother’s home on Glenwood, Crawford went outside to start his mother’s car. He planned to meet up with a Buffalo cousin he had not seen in four years.
As the 30-year-old Crawford got into the vehicle at about 12:40 a.m. Dec. 22, someone shot him twice in the face. He collapsed and died in his mother’s driveway.

A witness saw two young men running away into the night.''

“No motive for this crime has ever been found,” Detective Mary Evans said earlier this month. “To this date, we’ve never found anything that indicates this man was targeted for any reason. He had just arrived from out of town with his wife and kids.”

''Police found no evidence that anyone in Buffalo had any reason to harm him. There was no robbery. Whoever shot him did not steal his wallet or anything else.
From the first day of the investigation, detectives have theorized that Crawford may have been the random target of two young thrill-seeking gunmen. Police believe the same two gunmen may have been responsible for attempts to shoot two motorists on nearby Humboldt Parkway, just minutes before Crawford was shot.''
''
Etsuko worked a day job as an accountant, while her husband took care of the children. Soon after she got home from work, he headed to the studio to spend his night working with musicians.''

''Anyone with information – or possible information – about the case is asked to call the Cold Case line at 851-4511, or email [email protected]. Anonymous calls or texts can be sent to the TIP-CALL line at 847-2255.''