Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 44-year-old Keith Sparks of Niagara Falls has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A-1” felony. The defendant was arraigned on Monday, November 4, 2019.

It is alleged that on September 25, 2019, at approximately 2:00 p.m., the defendant fatally stabbed his ex-girlfriend, 38-year-old Mallicia Tipps, inside the Sears store at the McKinley Mall in the Town of Hamburg. 

Sparks is scheduled to return on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. He continues to remain held without bail.

If convicted on the charge, he faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Town of Hamburg Police Department and other law enforcement agencies for their work in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Chief Colleen Curtin Gable of the DA’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Rebecca A. Fioravanti of the DA’s Justice Courts.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.