Buffalo, NY (WBEN) A squatter will now have a permanent residence after being convicted of gunning down two handymen. Dale Cummings will be in a prison cell for the rest of his life after sentencing Thursday.
Cummings, 33, was sentenced to life without parole after a jury found him guilty of first degree murder. Cummings was illegally squatting at a vacant building on Zenner Street in April 2024 when he shot 59-year-old Babul Meah and 39-year-old Abu Yousuf. Those two were entering the home to make repairs.
“I am pleased to announce that a jury found the defendant guilty of these horrific and senseless murders. These two men were working as handymen when they encountered an armed squatter inside a vacant home. Tragically, their lives ended when this defendant intentionally shot both victims with an illegal semi-automatic rifle near the entrance and continued to fire shots as they retreated outside. The victims are survived by their wives and several children, and I hope their families feel justice has been served by this defendant being convicted and receiving the maximum state prison sentence,” says Erie County DA Mike Keane.
Keane says forensic analysis determined that the recovered weapon was a projectile match to the gun used to kill both victims. Additionally, the rifle was a major DNA profile match to Cummings.