Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 45-year-old Omar Mapps of Buffalo pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to one count of Assault in the First Degree, a Class “B” violent felony. He pleaded guilty to the only charge in the indictment against him on January 28, 2020.

On the morning of May 23, 2019, the victim was walking on Broadway near Liddell Street in the City of Buffalo when the defendant jumped out from behind a fence, slashed her across the face with a knife, and ran off.

The defendant was known to the victim. Despite his face being partially covered with a mask at the time of the attack, the victim was able to identify Mapps as the assailant.

The victim was taken by ambulance to ECMC where she received treatment for a large laceration across her face. 

Mapps faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Monday, March 16, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail.

DA Flynn commends Detective Jay Reuther and Officer Brian Walter of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Noha A. Elnakib of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau.