Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that James L. Allen, 69, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge in full satisfaction of the indictment.
On Friday, November 4, 2022, at approximately 1:35 p.m., the defendant and his girlfriend were involved in a verbal altercation inside of her home on Cambridge Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The defendant stabbed the female victim in the abdomen with a kitchen knife during the argument. After the victim was stabbed, the defendant engaged in a physical altercation with an adolescent male. The female victim was taken by ambulance to ECMC with physical injuries. The male victim suffered a minor cut to his right hand during the assault.
Allen was initially arraigned in Buffalo City Court on one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony), one count of Assault in the Third Degree, one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanors) and one count of Harassment in the Second Degree (violation). Bail was set at $25,000 cash, property and partially secured bond.
The victim, 44-year-old Yashika Page, died from her injuries at ECMC on Friday, November 11, 2022. The following day, Allen was arraigned in Buffalo City Court on one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony) and held without bail.
Allen faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail.
DA Keane commends Veteran Affairs Investigator Altonji, Officer Chrisopher Bauer and members of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Unit and E District for their work in the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rebecca L. Schnirel of the Homicide Unit and Assistant District Attorney Meredith M. Mohun of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau.