Two inmates at the Erie County Holding Center in Buffalo were charged with murder Thursday following an attack on another inmate on July 4.
Chico Garcia, 49, of Buffalo, and Skyler J. Gill, 21, of Lancaster, were arraigned Thursday morning before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan. Garcia and Gill have both been charged with one count of second-degree murder (Class A-I felony).
It is alleged that on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at approximately
About 11:10 a.m. July 4, deputies found Antonio Pizarro, 27, unresponsive inside of a cell at the Erie County Holding Center. Erie County Sheriff’s Office Jail Management Division staff, members of the Buffalo Fire Department and American Medical Response (AMR) paramedics performed life-saving measures but were unable to resistate him and he was pronounced dead at 11:54 a.m.
The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Officer ruled the manner of death as homicide caused by strangulation. Gill and Garcia are accused of acting in concert with one another to intentionally cause the death of the victim.
Garcia and Gill were held without bail. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.
If convicted of the charge, they face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. A release didn’t say what charges Garcia and Gill were being held on at the holding center.
Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane commended the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau and Jail Management Division, New York State Attorney General’s Office, Buffalo Fire Department and American Medical Response for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Eugene T. Partridge, III.