A Springwater man has been charged with murder after a woman was found shot dead outside her home in Livingston County, New York, the Livingston County Sheriff's Office said. Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reported the arrest following an investigation by his office.

Source: Livingston County Sheriff's Office

Deputies were dispatched to a residence in the Town of Springwater at about 11:07 p.m. on October 25, 2026, for a report of a person who had been shot, the sheriff's office said. They found a woman outside the residence who had been shot and was deceased. She was later identified as Shannon Knapp, 42, who lived at the residence.

Investigators said an altercation took place outside the residence involving three other individuals, and that during the altercation a 12-gauge shotgun was introduced and ultimately discharged, striking Knapp. Sheriff's office members worked through the night and the following day piecing together the events, the statement said.

At a press conference, Sheriff Dougherty and Livingston County District Attorney Ashley Williams said the accused and the victim were boyfriend and girlfriend, that the incident was isolated and that there was no threat to the public, The Keuka Sun reported. Smith was arrested at his home without incident, the paper reported.

Source: The Keuka Sun

42Age of the victim, Shannon Knapp of Springwater
26Age of Christopher Smith, charged in the case
Oct. 25, 11:07 p.m.Time deputies were dispatched to the residence (sheriff)

On October 26, sheriff's investigators located, arrested and charged Christopher Smith, 26, with felony second-degree murder, felony first-degree criminal use of a firearm, and misdemeanour second-degree menacing, the sheriff's office said. These are charges, not a conviction, and the case will be decided in court.

Smith was processed at the Livingston County Jail and arraigned at the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part before Town of Springwater Justice Johnson, the sheriff's office said. He was remanded to the custody of the sheriff and held with no bail.

The investigation continues. Investigators said they located and secured weapons believed to be involved, and members of the sheriff's command staff, Criminal Investigations Division, Patrol Division and Forensic Identification Unit assisted, along with the Livingston County District Attorney's Office.