Lewiston Police have arrested and charged Lance Woods with one count of murder in the second degree.

LEWISTON, N.Y. — Lewiston Police are investigating a homicide in the Town of Sanborn involving a member of the Buffalo Police Department.

Chief Michael Salada told 2 On Your Side that officers were called to a house on Buffalo Street for a welfare check of a female resident Saturday evening. Upon inspection, police found 35-year-old Alexis Skoczylas of Sanborn dead inside the home.

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Following a police investigation and less than 12 hours after Skoczylas was found dead, police arrested 53-year-old Lance Woods, who is currently a member of the Buffalo Police Department. A department spokesperson said Woods was an active school resource officer, holding the rank of police officer.

Woods has been charged with one count of Murder in the second degree. He is being held at the Niagara County Jail awaiting arraignment, according to a statement from Lewiston Police. 

The office of New York Attorney General Letitia James said Skoczylas was shot when it released a statement Sunday evening.

When asked about the incident prior to charges being filed on Sunday morning, Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan said, “My heart goes out to the family, to the children who were on site during the incident.”

“There is a person of interest who is being detained and questioned, and the Buffalo Police Department Internal Affairs Unit has been notified that the person is a member of the Buffalo Police Department,” Ryan added.

The Mayor called it a “rapidly developing” situation and stated that if charges are filed, the New York State Attorney General’s Office would be notified. 2 On Your Side has reached out to the Attorney General’s Office for confirmation.

The Lewiston Police Department said its investigation is ongoing and that additional details will be released as they become available.

Buffalo Police on Sunday afternoon issued a statement, saying in full:

“At approximately 1 a.m. today, the Buffalo Police 911 Dispatch Lieutenant was contacted by the Lewiston Police Department in connection with a homicide in Niagara County. Lewiston Police were seeking the location of off-duty Buffalo Police Officer Lance Woods. 

“Buffalo Police detectives worked in coordination with Lewiston Police, sharing resources to support the apprehension of Woods, including using investigative resources to attempt to locate the vehicle Woods was believed to be driving. Woods has subsequently been arrested and charged with Murder. 

“Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b governing officer-involved deaths, the case has been referred to the New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI). Buffalo Police will continue to coordinate with OSI to support their ongoing investigation.

“The Buffalo Police Internal Affairs Division is also in the process of reviewing the timeline of events of this rapidly evolving situation.”