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A police officer from Buffalo, New York, is facing murder charges following the discovery of his wife’s body in their Sanborn residence over the weekend.
The Lewiston Police Department conducted a welfare check at the home of 35-year-old Alexis Skoczylas, where they found her deceased shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday. Subsequently, 53-year-old Lance Woods was taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder in connection to her death.
According to New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Woods, who serves as an officer with the Buffalo Police Department, was arraigned on Sunday. James noted that the state’s Office of Special Investigations is looking into the shooting as required by state legislation.
Reports from WKBW indicated that Woods was apprehended by Amherst Police during an early Sunday morning traffic stop. The report also revealed that although the family, including two children, continued to reside together in the Sanborn home, Skoczylas had filed for divorce in September. Tragically, the children were present in the home during the incident.
It was determined that Skoczylas died from a single gunshot wound to the head. The couple’s children are now being cared for by relatives.
Police told the station that Woods had been with the department since January 2008 but had not progressed beyond the rank of officer. He was a school resource officer but was not assigned to a specific school.
Officials said he used his personal firearm to murder his wife and not his city-issued firearm.