Hamburg man sentenced for fatally shooting victim inside north Buffalo business

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced 36-year-old Salvatore S. Rizzo of Hamburg was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to 20 years to life in prison.

On Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, at approximately 10:18 a.m., the defendant intentionally shot the victim with an illegal gun inside of a business on Botsford Place in the City of Buffalo. The defendant was arrested a short time later at his residence in the Town of Hamburg. During the investigation, police found a loaded, illegal gun inside of the defendant’s vehicle.

The victim, 40-year-old Slavisa “Slav” Stojanovic, was taken by ambulance to ECMC with injuries to his head and neck. Stojanovic later died at the hospital on Thursday, Feb. 16.

On Sept. 15, Rizzo pleaded guilty to one count of murder in the second degree (class “A-I” felony) and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (class “C” violent felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest count in the indictment against him.

DA Flynn commended Det. Sgt. Carl Lundin, Det. Ray Krug, Lt. Autumn Harrison and officer Walter Skrzynski of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John G. Schoemick of the major crimes bureau and Assistant District Attorney Michael J. McHale of the appeals bureau.