Gloria Rodriguez
Research in Crime & Security
Professor Katherine Cho

Ladies and gentleman of the jury this case involves an attempted armed robbery and murder in the first degree. Attempt is when a person is guilty of an attempt to commit a crime when, with intent to commit a crime, he engages in conduct which tends to effect the commission of such crime. Armed robbery is the taking of money or goods in the possession of another, from his or her person or immediate presence, by force or intimidation. Murder in the first degree is with intent to cause the death of another person, he causes the death of such person or of a third person (Article 125.27 NYS Penal Law). In this case, an attempted robbery and shooting occurred in a retail store named Lazar’s Clothing Store on February 14, 2011 that was managed and owned by Sidney and Sara Lazar. Unfortunately, during the attempted armed robbery Mrs. Lazar was shot and killed. Two men were involved and both wearing black leather jackets. After the shooting, the police arrived and interviewed Mr. Lazar and a bystander by the name of Mr. Green. Mr. Lazar looked through photos and identified both of the defendants, John Hudson and Dale Buckner as the two men that killed his wife. The same night, the police checked the defendants’ arrest records and went to Hudson and Buckner’s apartment to arrest them. The police found physical evidence and outside of the apartment they also saw a car matching the description of the defendants’ getaway car. The police then called Mr. Lazar and Mr. Green to participate in several identification procedures. The witnesses for the prosecution side include Sidney Lazar, Richard Green, and Investigator Sam Reilly. Sidney Lazar is the victim’s, Sara Lazar, husband and business partner.He witnessed the whole crime happen. Richard Green is the bystander that saw the defendants escape. Investigator Sam Reilly is the officer that showed up to the scene of the crime. The witnesses for the defense side include defendants John Hudson and Dale Buckner and an Ali-by witness by the name of William Barr. John Hudson and Dale Buckner are the two men accused of the death of Sara Lazar. William Barr is an ali-by witness that knows both of the defendants and saw them the day the crime occurred. Barr stated that knew the defendants for a very long time, they grew up in the same neighborhood, but doesn’t consider them close friends. He also stated that he saw both Hudson and Buckner the same day the crime occured at Sam’s Chicken Shack, located around the corner from their house. He saw them a little bit after 3 p.m. when he was buying chicken for his girlfriend. He was there for about 15 or 20 minutes and claimed that so were Hudson and Buckner. The defendants, John Hudson and Dale Bucker, live together in an apartment located on 2425 S. Damen and both have arrest records. Hudson was convicted of aggravated assault seven years ago and sentenced to two years in the penitentiary. Buckner was convicted of theft of a $25 hat two years ago and was fined $100 and was placed on probation. On the day of the shooting, Hudson walked into the store while Buckner waited outside and Mr. Lazar asked him “What can we do for you today?” Hudson pulled out a handgun from his jacket pocket, pointed at both Mr and Mrs. Lazar and said “Give us all the money.” Mrs. Lazar screamed and Bucker said “Shut her up, Johnny.” Hudson then shot Mrs. Lazar. Buckner then said “Let’s get out of here, Johnny,” and both of them ran out and escaped in a big black sedan. I intend to prove that defendants John Hudson and Dale Buckner are guilty of attempted armed robbery and murder in the first degree. The physical evidence the police found in the defendants’ apartment the same day of the shooting include an unloaded .38 caliber smith and wesson that seemed to be recently cleaned and a black leather jacket. When Investigator Sam Reilly confiscated the gun he said “You guys won’t be using this gun again on anyone.” Buckner replied “If you mean that crazy broad, no way.” Hudson then said “Shut up, Dale, you still talk too much.” Those statements alone are suspicious and some sort of proof that the defendants are guilty. The black leather jacket also matches the description of what they were wearing they day of the incident. Outside of the apartment there was also a black sedan registered to Buckner that Mr. Green witnessed the defendants take off in. Ladies and gentleman of the jury its clear that these two defendants are guilty of the murder of Sara Lazar. We have enough physical evidence and interviews to prove that John Hudson and Dale Buckner are indeed guilty of attempted armed robbery and murder in the first degree.