Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A squatter accused of shooting and killing two men at a property on Zenner Street in the City of Buffalo last month was arraigned this Friday morning in Erie County Court.
Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane announced 31-year-old Dale Cummings has been charged with first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and one count each of second and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Cummings has been accused of fatally shooting Babul Meah and Abu Yousuf, two Buffalo residents who arrived at a property on the 100 block of Zenner Street to perform maintenance work, a vacant house Cummings was accused of occupying at the time.
"This is a horrific case. It's a case that involves essentially the ambush of these two men who were at this house on Zenner Street to do some work on a house that had been sold," DA Keane explains.
It is alleged that as the two gentlemen entered the house, Cummings from inside the house promptly shot them with an illegal automatic weapon.
"It is a TEC-9 rifle with a detachable pistol grip magazine. It is it is an automatic weapon because of the modifications that were made to the gun. It was also defaced, that's the purpose for the for the fifth count in the indictment, the serial number had been scratched off, and that is also a felony for which he has been indicted," said Keane.
Cummings entered a plea of not guilty to all charges during his court appearance.
Cummings is scheduled to return on Thursday, June 27 at 10 a.m. ET for a pre-trial conference. He remains held without bail.
If convicted of the highest charge, Cummings faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
Acting DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad and SWAT Unit for their work in this investigation.
