Man Accused of Killing Woman Captured After Ejection from Car During Police Chase

A man suspected of fatally shooting a woman early Thursday in Buffalo is now in custody following a police chase and crash on the I-90, according to New York State Police sources.

Authorities had been searching for 49-year-old Rickey Crouch who was wanted in connection with the shooting death of 44-year-old Amanda Thompson.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning on the 600 block of South Ogden Street.

Following the shooting, Crouch was involved in a police pursuit that ended when he crashed into an uninvolved vehicle and was ejected from his own. After being treated for injuries, he will be handed over to Buffalo Police.

Buffalo Police Chief of Detectives Craig Macy said officers responded to a call reporting shots fired shortly after midnight. Upon arrival, they discovered Thompson suffering from gunshot wounds. She later died from her injuries.

Investigators say Crouch and Thompson were previously involved in a domestic relationship. In May, Crouch was arrested for breaking into Thompson’s residence with a firearm. Despite the seriousness of the charges, he was released shortly afterward.

He later violated an order of protection but was again released (once on his own recognizance and once on $50,000 bail). Officials stated that the District Attorney’s Office had opposed his release on all occasions.

“I think none of us can argue that there’s adjustments that need to be made to the criminal justice system here in the country,” Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon said during a press conference.. “You have a district attorney’s office that was asking for him, because he was obviously seen as a threat, to be held, but he wasn’t and I think that’s a large problem.”

Authorities also revealed that Crouch has a prior homicide conviction. He was released early from parole in 2023 and was recently linked to a shots fired incident in Cheektowaga. That investigation is ongoing.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $7,500 for any information related to Crouch. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (716) 867-6161 or the Buffalo Police Department at (716) 847-2255.

Man Accused of Killing Woman Captured After Ejection from Car During Police Chase