A man allegedly went on a shooting rampage in upstate New York, starting by killing a deli owner before returning home to fatally shoot his wife and two small children, as stated by prosecutors.
According to reports, the sequence of events began around 2:30 p.m. on Monday when Saleh Q. Mohammed, 29, allegedly shot 43-year-old Shukri Muthana in the chest.
An hour later, as authorities looked into the initial shooting, they were alerted to another situation at Mohammed’s residence in Cheektowaga, where neighbors heard what sounded like gunfire mixed with screams.
When police arrived, they discovered the bodies of Aisha Abdullah, 26, and her two boys, aged 4 and 3, all having been shot.
A resident living nearby reported hearing “six or seven crackles, like a nail gun.”
“Then it got quiet for a moment, but then things really escalated—people were screaming, genuine screams,” a woman, who chose to remain anonymous, described.
It was mentioned that police apprehended Mohammed just outside the home, along with two other individuals. The family had been residing there for around two years.
The precise nature of the relationship between Mohammed and Muthana remains unclear at this time.
Dr. Khalid Kazi, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, remarked, “This is an incredibly sad event for the community here,” adding that everyone is trying to process the tragic situation. “No one seems to understand why something like this happens and how it can be prevented.”
Mohammed faces one count of first-degree murder related to the Buffalo incident and three counts of second-degree murder regarding his family. He is being held without bail.
The Erie County District Attorney’s Office noted that if convicted, he could receive a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, and hinted that further charges might be introduced.
