Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek has found 63-year-old Michael B. Rattle of Buffalo guilty of one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony). Judge Wojtaszek rendered his decision this morning following a one-day bench trial on September 7, 2022.

On Sunday, January 10, 2021, at approximately 4:00 a.m., the defendant fatally shot 63-year-old Daniel Wolfe with a legally-owned shotgun. The crime occurred inside of the defendant’s apartment on Geary Street in the City of Buffalo. 

Rattle faces a maximum of 5-15 years in prison when he is sentenced on November 4, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Judge Wojtaszek set bail at $15,000.  

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

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan D. Haggerty of the Homicide Bureau.