Woods was arraigned today before Judge Caroline Wojtaszek at Niagara County Court on a charge of Murder in the Second Degree and was remanded into custody. The indictment alleges that Woods shot his wife, Alexis Skoczylas, in their home, causing her death. Judge Wojtaszek set May 8, 2026 as the next court appearance date.
The shooting occurred on February 14, 2026, at the house where Woods and his wife lived in Lewiston, Niagara County. Woods was off-duty at the time of the incident. The officer was initially arrested after the shooting and had been previously arraigned on February 15 by Town of Somerset Justice of the Peace Pamela Rider in Niagara County's centralized arraignment part.
Murder in the Second Degree carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Woods, who has been employed with the Buffalo Police Department, now faces the most serious criminal charge available under New York law for the alleged killing of his spouse.
The case falls under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation (OSI), which assesses every incident where a police officer or peace officer may have caused a person's death. Under New York Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI investigates such incidents regardless of whether the officer was on-duty or off-duty, and whether the decedent was armed or unarmed.
The OSI's mandate includes conducting full investigations when its assessment indicates an officer caused a death. This authority extends to incidents involving corrections officers and situations where the decedent may or may not have been in custody or incarcerated. The office has been handling such cases as part of its broader oversight of law enforcement-related fatalities.
The indictment represents a significant development in a case involving domestic violence within law enforcement ranks. While criminal charges are merely accusations and Woods is presumed innocent unless found guilty at trial or by plea, the case highlights ongoing concerns about officer-involved fatalities and the special investigative procedures required when law enforcement personnel are involved in deaths.
The case will proceed through the Niagara County Court system, with Woods facing potential life imprisonment if convicted. The Attorney General's Office will continue to handle prosecution of the matter under its special investigation protocols for law enforcement-related deaths.