New York Attorney General Letitia James has dropped a bombshell on the gritty streets of Buffalo. Today, she announced the arrest and arraignment of Lance Woods, 53, of Lewiston, for Murder in the Second Degree.
Woods, a sworn officer with the Buffalo Police Department (BPD), is now staring at life behind bars after he allegedly shot and killed his wife, Alexis Skoczylas, off-duty on February 14. The couple was home with family when tragedy struck.
Pursuant to New York Executive Law Section 70-b, AG James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) launched a probe into the incident. Under this law, any death involving an officer, whether on or off-duty, is scrutinized by OSI for potential officer misconduct.
The AG’s office has commended the Town of Lewiston Police Department, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, City of Niagara Falls Police Department, and the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office for their collaborative efforts in this case. As always, criminal charges are mere accusations, and Woods is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The arraignment was handled by Town of Somerset Justice of the Peace Pamela Rider, who found enough evidence to remand Woods into custody without bail. This grim tale from the streets of Buffalo serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk behind police blue lines.
Stay tuned for more updates as this harrowing case unfolds.
Related Federal Cases
- Buffalo Officer Lance Woods Arraigned for Murder · New York
- Buffalo Police Fatality Under Scrutiny by NY AG’s OSI · Minnesota
- Mean Arms Enabled Buffalo Shooter: $1.75M Settlement · Georgia
- Queens Cop Death Probe Launched · New York
- Syracuse Cop Fatally Shot Donnell Hogan: Report Clear, Charges Dropped · New York
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: NY AG
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News