Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 44-year-old Keith Sparks of Niagara Falls pleaded guilty, as charged, before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A-1” felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the only count in the indictment against him.

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 faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Monday, October 19, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail.

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

The case was prosecuted by former Chief Colleen Curtin Gable of the DA’s Homicide Bureau, current Chief Gary Hackbush of the DA’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Rebecca A. Fioravanti of the DA’s Justice Courts.