Teens plead not guilty to brutal murder

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - As a family mourns the savage death of a 16-year-old boy in Buffalo, the two young suspects accused in the horrific crime faced a judge on Wednesday. The two teens are charged as adults.

Prosecutors have already charged the pair with second degree murder in the killing of Darren Brown, who was stabbed repeatedly and set on fire.

But there are still more questions than answers about his brutal murder. Police aren't saying much and neither are the two teenage suspects who remain in jail, held without bond.

Accused killers 16-year-old Ezeiekile Nafi and 17-year-old Demetrius Huff appeared together in Buffalo City Court Wednesday, cuffed and quiet.

Prosecutor James Bargnesi said, "They're accused of intentional murder, beyond that I'm not going to get into the particulars of what took place."

Bargnesi said the two worked together to brutally murder Darren Brown. Though they're charged as adults, police requested we not show their faces.

"It's early in the process. We always make every effort to protect the identities of the accused in order to ensure a fair trial down the road," Bargnesi explained.

Police say Huff and Nafi stabbed Brown several times, leaving his body next to old railroad tracks off Colvin and Taunton, burning. There was a four-day investigation to try and find the suspects, and Police Commissioner Dan Derenda said they had help from city surveillance cameras.

Police will not unveil what motivated the murder or if it is gang-related, but News 4 has heard it may be drug-related.

We went to try and speak with Brown's mother. She did not wish to be interviewed. However, neighbors spoke up, saying Brown had his troubles, but was a smart young man.

Louvenia Moore, who watch the teen grow up, said, "As far as I knew, Darren was a typical teenager."

Moore said Brown's mother worked to keep him on the straight and narrow path of life. But she said his murder seems to be a sign of the times.

"Our children seem to... once they get of a certain age, they have minds of their own, they have things they want to experience, and it's not always the best things for them," Moore said.

Huff and Nafi both insist they did not kill Brown, pleading not guilty to the charges. Police say more arrests could be made. If the pair are convicted, they could face 25 years to life in prison.

Huff and Nafi are due back in court on Monday. Until then, they will remain behind bars.