Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 25-year-old Raymond Smith of Buffalo has pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Thomas P. Franczyk to Murder in the Second Degree for the death of his former girlfriend. 

On or about February 1, 2015, while inside the home of the victim at 43 Northumberland Avenue in Buffalo, the defendant fatally choked and beat his estranged girlfriend, 21-year-old Shaquilla Coston, with whom he has a young son, Keyonte Smith. 

Today, during a break in his jury trial before Judge Franczyk, the defendant pleaded guilty to the highest count in the indictment. 

Smith faces 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Franczyk on March 9, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. 

DA Flynn credits the Buffalo Police Homicide Unit for its thorough investigation. 

Assistant District Attorney Gary W. Hackbush of DA Flynn’s Homicide Bureau and Paul C. Parisi, Chief of the Tactical Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.