Police in Buffalo, New York, says that a 34 -year -old man was accused of murder in relation to the murder of a man from the six nations and his partner last week.
The couple, Jordan Celotto, 37, and Michael (Mickey) Harmon, 40, were found dead in their Allentown residence on March 4 around 4:30 pm, according to the police. Buffalo’s interim mayor, Christopher Scanlon, said the cause of death was a forceful force.
“As we have realized, the nature of these crimes is really horrible, the meaningless and violent nature of them is something that we cannot and we will not defend here in the city of Buffalo,” Scanlon said during a press conference on March 7 that announces the charges.
A 34 -year -old man without fixed direction was accused of a first -degree murder charge and two second -degree murder positions, police said.
The man was trying to enter other houses, according to the police
The Buffalo Police detective head, Craig Macy, said at the press conference that the man was not known by Celotto or Harmon.
Macy said the person was in the neighborhood for 45 minutes trying to enter other homes. “It was also discovered that the suspect was trying to enter multiple vehicles in the same period of time,” he said.
Erie County District Prosecutor, Michael Keane, said the person “illegally entered the house of the victims” that morning and hit them both in the head with a blunt object.
Scanlon added that, according to police investigation, the attack was not attacked or motivated by hate.
Celotto and Harmon were declared dead on the scene.
The police said that a friend of the couple went to the house after one of the victims did not appear to work. The friend saw someone with a knife and called 911. The officers who went to the scene saw a man they said was cut before dropping the knife.
The 34 -year -old man was taken to a nearby hospital to receive treatment. He was discharged on Friday and accused.
“He faces a maximum life sentence without probation if he is convicted,” Keane said, adding that the police are still investigating.
“I know this is a great loss for our community and it is difficult to make sense of this tragic crime.”
‘A tragedy we never expected’
Celotto was a member of the Onover Beaver family of six nations of the Grand River.
The nearby friend of Celotto, Sophia Mafaje, told CBC Hamilton last week that grew in the Niagara region and that she was deeply connected to her hometown in six nations. He was “an incredible artist” and “so loving,” he said.
The family friend, Heather La Forme, established a Gofundme page to help Celotto’s family “with unexpected costs … to take him home at Sour Springs Longhouse” in six nations.
Almost $ 59,000 US of the $ 70,000 target were collected until Wednesday morning.
The death of Celotto was “a tragedy that we never expect or prepare,” wrote the form on the fund collection page.
Harmon also had an established Gofundme page for its funeral costs, where he said he would be buried in Buffalo.
The couple was loved and known in the 2SLGBTQ+ and Arts in Buffalo communities.
Dozens of tributes were published by people in the city of the United States, and beyond, last week, including the Pride Center of the West of New York, the LGBTQ Buffalo-Niagara history project, where Harmon was a member of the Board and Local Cafes the intersection.
“The impact they had on the queer community is immeasile.
TO Life celebration Both Celotto and Harmon will take place at the Contemporary Arts Center for Hallwalls in Buffalo on March 22.
