The man who shot Buffalo Police officer Patricia Parete in 2006 will not be charged with first-degree murder, following Parete's death earlier this year.
Varner Harris, Jr., 25, is already serving 30 years-to-life in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder. Harris admitted to shooting Parete and her partner Carl Andolina in December of 2006 on Chippewa Street.
Parete was paralyzed from a spinal injury. She died in February while in Hospice care.
In a letter to Parete's father, Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita says he weighed whether to charge Harris with first-degree murder after Parete's death was classified as a homicide. But he says he was told prosecuting Harris again was against Parete's wishes.
