BUFFALO, NY — A 49-year-old Buffalo man, Rickey Crouch, was apprehended Thursday evening, July 17, 2025, by New York State Police on Interstate 90 near Hamburg, following a multi-agency effort. Crouch was wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 44-year-old Amanda Thompson, which occurred shortly after midnight on Thursday at a residence on South Ogden Street in Buffalo.
Buffalo police, with assistance from New York State Police Troop T and other law enforcement agencies, conducted a statewide manhunt after Crouch was identified as the prime suspect in Thompson’s homicide. Crime Stoppers Western New York had offered a $7,500 reward for information leading to his arrest, warning that he should be considered armed and dangerous. Crouch was taken into custody after a police pursuit on I-90, during which he crashed into an uninvolved vehicle and was ejected from his own. He was evaluated for injuries before being turned over to the Buffalo Police Department.
Authorities confirmed that Crouch and Thompson, a mother of three and a Jamestown Community College graduate, had been in a prior domestic relationship. Thompson had sought protection from Crouch following earlier incidents. In May 2025, Crouch was arrested for allegedly breaking into Thompson’s home with a firearm. He faced charges of second-degree burglary, criminal possession of a firearm, and second-degree harassment. Despite prosecutors’ concerns, he was released after posting $50,000 bail. Days later, on May 20, Crouch allegedly violated an order of protection by driving past Thompson’s home and that of a relative. He was arraigned on May 23 on charges of second-degree criminal contempt and second-degree harassment. Prosecutors requested $30,000 bail, citing his ongoing threat and prior release on bail for a crime involving harm to an identifiable person, but Crouch was released on his own recognizance.
Crouch’s criminal history includes a 1997 conviction for second-degree murder in the 1996 killing of a 16-year-old McKinley High School student, an innocent bystander in a gang-related shooting. He was sentenced to at least 23 years in prison but was granted early parole release in 2023. Thompson’s family, including her 14-year-old son Kyrell and mother Muril Hadden, expressed grief and frustration, noting prior incidents of harassment and assault by Crouch, including an uncharged assault on Kyrell a month before the homicide.
The tragic death of Amanda Thompson has reignited discussions in Erie County about New York State’s bail reform laws, with Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon and others criticizing the system for allowing Crouch’s release despite his history and perceived threat. Buffalo Police Chief of Detectives Craig Macy and Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane emphasized the challenges posed by current bail regulations, which limited their ability to detain Crouch.
Thompson is survived by her three children, family, and a grieving community. Authorities are encouraging those affected by domestic violence to seek support through local resources, including the Family Justice Center at (716) 558-7233, Erie County Child and Family Services at (716) 884-6000, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233. Visitation and memorial details for Thompson will be announced at a later date.