Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 46-year-old Antonio Prieto of Buffalo was arraigned this morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Gary W. Wilson, Jr. on one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony). The defendant was arraigned while hospitalized at ECMC.
It is alleged that on Monday, August 26, 2024, at approximately 3:45 a.m., Buffalo Police officers responded to a reported domestic incident at an apartment on the 300 block of Rhode Island Street. Officers found the victim, a 29-year-old female, deceased at the scene. The defendant is accused of intentionally causing the death of his wife by striking her with an axe while inside of their shared apartment. The defendant was allegedly found with apparently self-inflicted knife wounds. He was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he remains in police custody.
Prieto is scheduled to return on Friday, August 30, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was held without bail.
If convicted of the charge, Prieto faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Justin H. Caldwell of the Homicide Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If you or someone you know is a victim or may be at-risk of domestic violence, help is available through the BE SAFE Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy Program. While our staff specialize in trauma-informed support and victim advocacy following the arrest of an offender, you do not need to have a pending criminal case to speak with an advocate and access services. For more information on BE SAFE, call 716-858-4630 or visit www.erie.gov/besafe.