(WNY News Now) – LEWISTON, N.Y. — A Buffalo Police officer has been indicted and arraigned on a murder charge following the fatal shooting of his wife on Valentine’s Day.
According to the New York Attorney General’s Office, Lance Woods, 53, of Lewiston in Niagara County, was indicted on one count of second-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, Alexis Skoczylas. Authorities allege Woods was off duty when the incident occurred.
Prosecutors state that on February 14, 2026, Woods allegedly shot Skoczylas inside the home they shared, resulting in her death.
Woods was arraigned in Niagara County Court before Judge Caroline Wojtaszek, where he was remanded. The court scheduled his next appearance for May 8, 2026.
Following the incident, Woods was initially arrested and arraigned on February 15 in Niagara County’s centralized arraignment part before Town of Somerset Justice of the Peace Pamela Rider.
If convicted, the charge of second-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The case is being handled by the New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI), which is tasked under state law with reviewing incidents in which law enforcement officers may have caused a person’s death. The law applies regardless of whether the officer was on or off duty and whether the individual was armed or in custody.
Authorities emphasized that the charge is an accusation, and Woods is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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