Felon sentenced receives maximum sentence for shooting girlfriend with shotgun inside their apartment

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michel J. Keane announced 36-year-old Christopher L. Walters of Buffalo was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges to 25 years to life in prison. He received the maximum possible sentence as a persistent violent felony offender.

Shortly after midnight on April 24, 2021, the defendant started an argument with his girlfriend then intentionally hit her in the back of the head with the end of a shotgun as she was laying on a bed inside of their shared apartment on Martha Avenue in the City of Buffalo. When the victim sat up after being struck with the firearm, the defendant attempted to cause the death of the victim by intentionally shooting her in the torso with the shotgun. The defendant fled after the attack.

The victim was hit in the right side of her torso by birdshot ammunition. She was transported by ambulance to ECMC where she was treated for a punctured lung, broken ribs and other internal injuries.

A few weeks after the attack, the defendant was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service in Florida. Walters was extradited back to Western New York to face prosecution in May 2021.

On Jan. 12, 2023, a jury found Walters guilty of one count of attempted murder in the second degree (class “B” violent felony), one count of assault in the second degree (class “D” felony) and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree (class “A” misdemeanor). Jurors rendered their decision after six hours of deliberation following a two-day trial, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment against him.

Today, a final order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim, which remains in effect until 2091.

Keane commends Lt. Jonathan D. Pietrzak and members of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank A. Strano of the major crimes bureau and Assistant District Attorney Daniel J. Mattle of the special victims/domestic violence bureau.

If you or someone you know is a victim or may be at risk of domestic violence, help is available through the BE SAFE domestic violence victim advocacy program. While our staff specializes in trauma-informed support and victim advocacy following the arrest of an offender, you do not need to have a pending criminal case to speak with an advocate and access services. For more information on BE SAFE, call 716-858-4630 or visit www.erie.gov/besafe.