Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 41-year-old Eric Smith of Buffalo has been arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.

It is alleged that on June 17, 2018, at approximately 8:42 p.m., the defendant fatally shot 17-year-old Leo Thagard III following a brief argument outside a home on the 100 block of Lombard Street in the City of Buffalo.

The defendant was remanded without bail.

If convicted on all charges, Smith faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

DA Flynn commends the investigative work of Det. Michael Mordino of the Buffalo Police Homicide Squad, Buffalo Police Det. Carmen Clark of the Violent Felony Warrant Squad and Deputy US Marshal James Bona.

Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Smith of the DA’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case.

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