Buffalo man sentenced for killing 1, injuring 2 in Club Marcella shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Buffalo man was sentenced Tuesday afternoon for killing one person and injuring two others in a shooting last year at Club Marcella in Buffalo, the Erie County District Attorney's Office announced.

Officials said at 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 12, Sharief McBroom, 21, intentionally fired multiple shots at 21-year-old Jorge Garcia Leon inside of Club Marcella on the 100 block of Michigan Avenue.

Leon died at the scene. Two other people, a 49-year-old male and a 59-year-old male, were injured by the gunfire and taken by ambulance to the hospital.

“This is a completely senseless, violent crime,” said Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane. “This defendant snuck an illegal gun into a nightclub then intentionally fired multiple shots at the victims after a minor altercation. I am taking a hard stance on gun violence, so no reduced plea was offered in this case.”

McBroom was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison. He initially faced a maximum of 50 years to life in prison.

McBroom pleaded guilty in July 2024 to one count of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree attempted murder and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Leon's sister, Samantha Goodwin, is suing Club Marcella, alleging that it was negligent in allowing the shooting that killed her brother to happen. In a wrongful death lawsuit filed Tuesday, she claims that her brother was killed because the club was "careless" and "reckless" for allowing a firearm onto the premises.

Goodwin also alleges that the bar should've stopped serving McBroom alcohol after he showed signs of intoxication.

WIVB News 4 reached out to the owners of Club Marcella for a response and have not heard back.