Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 67-year-old James L. Allen of Buffalo was arraigned yesterday morning before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony).

It is alleged that on Friday, November 4, 2022, at approximately 1:35 p.m., the defendant and his girlfriend were involved in a verbal altercation inside of their shared home on Cambridge Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The defendant is accused of stabbing the victim in the abdomen with a kitchen knife during the argument. After the victim was stabbed, the defendant allegedly 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 before Buffalo City Court Judge Carrie Phillips on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. Allen was charged with 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 before Buffalo City Court Judge Carrie Phillips on one count of Murder in the Second Degree and held without bail.

Allen is scheduled to return on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. for a pre-trial conference. He continues to be held without bail.

If convicted of the charge, Allen faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation.  

The case is being 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.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.