Prominent Allentown artists found dead in their home
News 4 Buffalo
by: Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini
Posted: Mar 5, 2025 / 02:01 PM EST
Updated: Mar 5, 2025 / 06:17 PM EST
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Two people, both prominent artists in the community, were found dead in their Allentown residence Tuesday afternoon, Buffalo officials said in a press conference Wednesday.
Michael Harmon, 40, co-owner of The Good Stuff on Allen Street, and Jordan Celotto, 37, were found deceased at 5 St. Louis Place, according to Buffalo police.
“Mickey was an anchor of Buffalo’s LGBTQ+ community, a talented artist, and a dedicated leader in Allentown,” said State Senator Sean Ryan in a statement. “From Remedy House to the dance floor, Jordan will always be remembered for the welcoming presence and joy that he brought to countless friends and neighbors.
Police were dispatched to the residence around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A friend called police after checking on one of the victims when they didn’t show up for work. Police said the friend spotted a person with a knife outside of the residence. When police arrived, the man dropped the knife after cutting himself. The 35-year-old person-of-interest was taken to ECMC and remains there under police supervision.
Police said the cause of death for Harmon and Celotto was blunt force trauma. On Thursday, police said “key pieces of evidence” have been recovered to help determine what happened.
Harmon and Celotto were a couple but officials said they have no reason to suspect it was a hate crime or that the person-of-interest was known to them.
“As district councilmember and as a member of the LGBTQ community, there is nothing that suspects that this was a hate crime,” said Council Member Mitch Nowakowski. “I want to put those tensions at ease. The individual is at ECMC so no one is believed to be at large.”
Both Harmon and Celotto were artists together in Allentown. Art was the centerpiece of their lives.
Harmon was known for his drawings of historic Buffalo homes and landmarks, as well as murals with LGBTQ themes and themes of giving.
“He was a staunch Buffalonian,” said Nowakowski. “He believed in our neighborhoods, he believed in walking and biking and not using a vehicle, he believed in artwork and bringing people together, having a ton of fun and evolving. This is a huge loss.”
Remedy House, a cafe on Buffalo’s West Side, made a post honoring Celotto, who worked there.
The homicides remain under investigation.
Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Prominent artists and advocates killed in Allentown double homicide
Mickey Harmon, 40, and partner Jordan Celotto, 37, two prominent members of Buffalo’s Allentown and LGBTQ+ communities, were found dead at their home on St Louis Place, in what police have ruled a double homicide.
A friend of the couple went to their Allentown home Tuesday afternoon after one of them didn’t show up for work. Police say that’s when the friend noticed a man in the house with a knife, and called 911.
Deputy Buffalo Police Commissioner Patrick Overdorf said officers were able to get the man into custody, but not before he cut himself. The 35 year-old “person of interest” was taken to ECMC under police supervision.
“Upon a subsequent search of the house, officers did locate two deceased victims. The medical examiner’s office did determine the cause of death to be blunt force trauma,” said Overdorf. “Obviously, this investigation is ongoing by the Buffalo Police homicide squad, but at this time, there is no indication at this point in the investigation that it is related to a hate crime. But obviously we are early in the investigation and continue to investigate all leads.”
Fillmore District Councilman Mitch Nowakowski, the first openly gay member of the council, was emotional at the press conference. Saying he knew Harmon and Celotto personally, and they were huge pillars in the community.
“I refuse to allow Mickey and Jordan’s memory to be attached to these heinous crimes,” said Nowakowski. “I want everybody to know that these people were artists, were people of the Allentown community, who made it better, who made things happen, who worked with me ever since I got into office. When you look and see Allentown and its vibrancy, its festivals, its artwork, think of them because that is who they are.”
Harmon was the co-owner of an art shop on Allen Street, and active with various Allentown business associations. Celotto was also a prominent artist in the local arts scene.
“It’s heartbreaking whenever we lose someone in the city of Buffalo to this type of violence, this unspeakable violence, but when you have people who contribute on the level that they did it hits home a little harder,” said Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon. “You know you’d be hard pressed to walk through Allentown without a reminder of their participation in and their commitment to the city of Buffalo and things that take place here year round.”
The Buffalo Police Department is continuing their investigation in collaboration with the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
Buffalo Police probe double homicide; suspect monitored at ECMC
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Since news broke about a double homicide in Buffalo, we haven’t learned much more about the investigation, but 2 On Your Side did receive a copy of the official police report on Thursday, and police say they’ve collected key evidence.
The police report shows that Buffalo Police were called out to 5 Saint Louis Place just before 4:30 Tuesday afternoon. It lists both Mickey Harmon and Jordan Celotto as victims and says the crime was second degree murder with intent.
RELATED: Allentown couple described as community leaders who made Buffalo a better place
It also reiterates what police said at Wednesday’s news conference, that they responded to a 911 call about a man with a knife and found both Harmon and Celotto dead.
Police said a 35-year-old man, who is a person of interest, is at Erie County Medical Center under their supervision. Police said officers found the man outside the apartment with a knife that he dropped after he cut himself.
Officers then found the victims in their home and say the cause of death was blunt force trauma.
“Upon arrival, the officers did encounter a male with a knife. The male did drop the knife, but only after cutting himself. The officers did call for an ambulance, the ambulance did arrive, and transported the individual up to ECMC. The individual remains at ECMC at this time as a person of interest under the supervision of the Buffalo Police Department,” Deputy Buffalo Commissioner Patrick Overdorf said on Wednesday.
Both Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon and Common Council member Mitch Nowakowski said there are no indications this was a hate crime. They addressed that issue on Wednesday because Harmon and Celotto were longtime partners and prominent members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“At this point, there is absolutely no indication of that, however, I do want to stress the Buffalo Police Department will follow any and all leads during their investigation,” said Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon.
“As district councilmember and as a member of the LGBTQ community, there is nothing that suspects that this was a hate crime, so I want to put those tensions at ease,” said Buffalo Common Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski.
The potential punishment for second degree murder, what’s listed on the police report, is 15 years to life in prison without parole.
