BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A 22 year-old man from Springville has been charged with first degree manslaughter following the death of his friend.
According to the Erie County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to Greenwood Place in the Village of Springville around 2 a.m. December 7 for the report of an unresponsive male in the roadway with injuries to his head.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office says 22-year-old Tyler Rehrauer, also known as Tyler Lux-Rehrauer, and 43-year-old Patrick Flynn were allegedly involved in a physical altercation.
DA Flynn says the fight started when Patrick Flynn allegedly threw a rock through a window of Rehrauer's home, because Rehrauer's father owed him some money.
"Tyler goes outside and confronts the victim," DA Flynn said.
Flynn says it was then the two men got into three separate physical altercations outside the home on Greenwood. He says after the third fight, Flynn was left on the ground, and Tyler walked back to his home.
DA Flynn says Tyler's girlfriend came upon the scene and called 911.
Officials say Flynn was initially transported to Bertrand Chaffee Hospital to be treated for his injuries but his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to ECMC. Flynn later died at ECMC. The district attorney's office says Flynn's cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma.
"He was the hardest working guy I've been with," said Robert Walters, who used to work contracting jobs with Flynn. "We always worked together well. I know he had two young daughters. It's a shame."
Flynn was an expert interior and exterior painter, according to his former co-workers.
"He was always a lot of fun. There were never any altercations, no problems," Walters said.
Rehrauer is accused of causing the death of Flynn and was charged with first degree manslaughter on December 9, he is due back in court December 15. He faces up to 25 years in prison and was remanded without bail.
