Melissa Kazmierczak, 52, was found fatally shot in a bedroom of her Stanton Street residence in Buffalo on the morning of August 4, 2019. First responders were called to the home; her husband, 46-year-old Allen Kazmierczak, was at the scene and reportedly told firefighters he had shot his wife. He was taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder, arraigned in Buffalo City Court and held without bail.

Melissa had moved to Buffalo about 13 years before to be with the man she later married in 2016. Friends and family described her as outgoing and joyful; she was the mother of four children from a previous marriage. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office says Melissa was shot multiple times with the intent to cause her death.

Anyone who knew Melissa or has information about what happened that morning is asked to come forward.