Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 36-year-old Salvatore S. Rizzo of Hamburg pleaded guilty this afternoon before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony), the highest charge in the indictment, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony).
On Thursday, February 9, 2023, at approximately 10:18 a.m., the defendant intentionally shot the victim with an illegal gun inside of a business on Botsford Place in the City of Buffalo. The defendant was arrested a short time later at his residence in the Town of Hamburg. During the investigation, police found a loaded, illegal gun inside of the defendant’s vehicle.
The victim, 40-year-old Slavisa “Slav” Stojanovic, was taken by ambulance to ECMC with injuries to his head and neck. Stojanovic later died at the hospital on Thursday, February 16, 2023.
Rizzo faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on October 30, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. He continues to be held without bail.
DA Flynn commends Detective Sergeant Carl Lundin, Detective Ray Krug, Lieutenant Autumn Harrison and Officer Walter Skrzynski of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John G. Schoemick of the Major Crimes Unit and Assistant District Attorney Michael J. McHale of the ERPO/Raise the Age Bureau.
