New York Artists Who Were Couple Are Found Slain Inside Home

A couple comprised of two artists was found slain inside their Buffalo, N.Y., home on Tuesday, March 4.

Michael “Mickey” Harmon, 40, and his partner Jordan Celotto, 37, were identified as the victims, acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon announced during a press conference on Wednesday.

According to Deputy Buffalo Police Commissioner Patrick Overdorf, their bodies were found when officers arrived at the property after receiving a call about a “person with a knife.” The 911 call was made by a friend who showed up at their home, concerned when one of them had not been to work.

“Upon arrival, the officers did encounter a male with a knife. The male did drop the knife but only after cutting himself,” said Overdorf. The 35-year-old man, whose name was not publicly revealed, was transported to the hospital, where he remained as of Wednesday, March 5, under police supervision. He is being considered a “person of interest.”

The bodies of Harmon and Celotto were found after officers did a subsequent search of the home. Overdorf said the medical examiner’s office determined their cause of death to be blunt force trauma.

While their death remains under investigation by the Buffalo Police homicide squad, Overdorf said “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.”

Council member Mitch Nowakowski, who said Harmon and Celotto had been “partners for quite some time,” referred to them as his “personal friends” during the press conference.

“As district council member 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,” he said. “The larger Community does not have to be fearful that somebody that could be in connection of these homicides is at large.”

While taking questions from reporters, Scanlon said that authorities “don’t have an answer” yet as to whether the person of interest had any connection to Harmon and Celotto.

Nowakowski said Harmon was a “prolific artist” who had an art gallery that he owned with a few people called “The Pineapple” on Allen Street. He said art was the “mutual connection” between Harmon and Celotto.

“Not only did they have to do different jobs to pay the bills, but they set performances and really garnered the artist community to work together,” said Nowakowski, who they were also involved in various community events.

Multiple community members have paid their respects online, including the Pride Center of Western New York, North Park Theatre, Elmwood Village Association, Remedy House and Explore Buffalo.

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GoFundMe campaigns to help cover funeral costs for Harmon and to help Celotto’s family have been set up by their loved ones.