Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Chico Garcia, 49, of Buffalo, and Skyler J. Gill, 21, of Lancaster, were arraigned this morning before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on an indictment. Garcia and Gill have both been charged with one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class A-I felony).
It is alleged that on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at approximately 11:11 a.m., deputies found an incarcerated individual, 27-year-old Antonio Pizarro, unresponsive inside of a cell at the Erie County Holding Center in the City of Buffalo. Erie County Sheriff’s Office Jail Management Division staff, members of the Buffalo Fire Department and American Medical Response (AMR) paramedics performed life-saving measures but were unable to resistate the victim who was pronounced deceased at approximately 11:54 a.m. The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Officer ruled the manner of death as homicide caused by strangulation. The defendants are accused of acting in concert with one another to intentionally cause the death of the victim.
Garcia and Gill were held without bail. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.
If convicted of the charge, Garcia and Gill face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
DA Keane commends the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau and Jail Management Division, New York State Attorney General’s Office, Buffalo Fire Department and American Medical Response for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Eugene T. Partridge, III.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.