While one death from 2024 is no longer considered a homicide, there are two other deaths from last year that are still under investigation.

Jerad Davis died May 2, 2024. His death was originally thought to be an overdose, however further investigation showed Davis had apparently been severely assaulted a short time before his death.

The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Davis’ death a homicide as a result of one or numerous assaults.

“We are working on that case right now. It’s still being investigated,” Schmidt said.

On Sept. 10, 2024 68-year-old Doug Howie was shot and killed in the area of Newland and Forest avenues.

District Attorney Jason Schmidt said there was one witness, but that individual isn’t cooperating.

There was a death in the northern end of the county that was initially thought to be a homicide, but ended up not.

On Dec. 28 Fredonia police, along with medical first responders, responded to a call for an unresponsive person within the village. It was later determined to be an overdose fatality.

That same night Fredonia police opened an investigation into the fatality.

“That one didn’t develop into anything,” Schmidt said.

On Tuesday, Schmidt announced that his office had closed the investigation into the death of Corey Johnson, 25, of Buffalo, who sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head on Aug. 16, 2024 during an altercation with other individuals in the area behind the Wine Cellar bar, 309 North Main St., Jamestown. He died a short time later at UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie, PA.

Using video and forensic evidence, as well as interviewing witnesses, Schmidt said they believe Johnson had initially pulled a handgun from his own clothing and threatened to use it against another person, chasing that individual.

During the chase, a struggle ensued between Johnson and the person he was chasing, and Johnson was fatally shot with his own handgun.

“Under these facts, the deadly physical force provisions of New York’s self-defense/justification law provide an absolute defense to the person who may have pulled the trigger during the final struggle resulting in Mr. Johnson’s death,” Schmidt said.

The incident was investigated by Jamestown Police Department which was on scene within minutes of the call, and processed the scene with assistance from the Chautauqua County Forensics Investigation Team.

2025 HOMICIDES

So far in 2025, there have been two deaths that have been announced as murders and in both cases, arrests have been made.

On Aug. 6, 43-year-old Alice Waters was found deceased in a Westfield camper fire.

After the fire, Jonathan Wilson, 40, was arrested on unrelated charges. He remained in the county jail until the indictment was unsealed on Oct. 8, where he was charged with second-degree murder. He is accused of killing Waters with a shotgun and causing the fire to cover up his crime.

Then on Sept. 12, David Nelson, 58, was arrested for allegedly shooting and killing 62-year-old Michael Jaeckle with a crossbow while in his Jamestown apartment.

A preliminary hearing was held for him on Nov 5.

During the preliminary hearing, it was stated that Jaeckle had recently been released after being hospitalized for mental health issues, which is where he and Jaeckle met.

Police testified that Nelson confessed to the murder and gave different reasons, including that there were other people outside that wanted to kill him, there was talk of suicide, and that Nelson felt threatened over concerns that Jaeckle may have had a pocketknife but none was found.