2022 Fatal Stabbing

In October 2022, Buffalo State student Tyler Lewis, age 19, was fatally stabbed by a UB student during a botched robbery attempt on North campus. The stabbing was ruled as self-defense.

Incident

Around 7:30 PM on October 14, 2022, Tyler Lewis was stabbed in the chest near the Richmond Quad. An RA called for assistance and officers arrived to provide first aid until EMS arrived within 11 minutes. He was taken to ECMC by ambulance, where he was later pronounced dead. Initial details at the scene identified a person of interest as a white man between the ages of 19 and 22 with light brown hair and average build and height. The suspect was reportedly wearing a mustard-colored shirt that was covered in blood and had several cuts on his face. UPD stated that they did not see any danger immediately after the event, but still increased patrol in the area around the Ellicott Complex.

Investigation

Due to the complicated nature of the incident, initial details of the investigation were kept quiet and the mother of the victim hired a private investigator and offered a reward for any information related to her son's alleged murder.. In January 2023, the Chief of University Police put out a statement to students asking for any information they could give regarding the incident.

The investigation would ultimately reveal that Tyler Lewis had come to UB's campus with friends to buy marijuana from a student in the dorms, and they planned on robbing him during the process. The DA stated that evidence showed that Lewis and other people attacked the student selling marijuana and attemped to steal his drugs and money. The student used a knife to fight off the attackers, which resulted in Lewis' death.

Aftermath & Legal Proceedings

The case was taken before a grand jury and in March 2023, it was ruled that the stabbing was self-defense and no charges would be brought against the attacker. The attacker un-enrolled from UB shortly after the news and his current status and identity are unknown to the public.

Lewis' mother has since refused to accept the outcome of the investigations and has continued advocating for her son's death as murder, despite evidence to the contrary. In January 2023, she sued both UB and Buffalo State, alleging both universities "failed to properly vet students prior to admission and admitted students known to have a violent history." Buffalo State declined to comment, but a spokesperson for UB stated the claims made were not supported by the evidence.

In September 2023, a State Supreme Court judge ruled that grand jury documents containing the names of those involved in the fatal on-campus stabbing would remain sealed. Lewis' mother wanted to list those involved as defendands in an ongoing civil suit. As far as is understood, the civil case is still on-going.