Cody Jeffords of Cheektowaga in custody after police say he beat 19-year-old Justin Vanderwalker, also of Cheektowaga, to death.
Reports circulated that the incident started with an argument between the men over a girlfriend, but police would not confirm that.
A family member said the "girlfriend" in question was the ex-girlfriend of Jeffords but just a friend of Vanderwalker's.
Police say the incident happened on May 25 around 10 p.m. on Slate Creek Drive in the Town of Cheektowaga. Vanderwalker was taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries over the weekend.
Police say no weapons were used during the assault and an autopsy showed Vanderwalker died of blunt force trauma.
Jeffords is now charged with assault but the DA's office is working with the Cheektowaga Police Department to possibly upgrade the charges.
Jeffords is being held without bail in the Erie County Holding Center.
