CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — A Western New York community is grappling with shock and grief after a devastating triple homicide claimed the lives of a mother and her two children inside a home on Ellen Drive in Cheektowaga on Monday afternoon. Authorities have charged 28-year-old Saleh Mohamed in connection with the killings, adding to an already disturbing series of violent incidents that unfolded across the Buffalo area the same day.
According to law enforcement officials, police were dispatched to a residence on Ellen Drive at approximately 3:30 p.m. following reports of a major incident. Upon arrival, officers discovered three victims deceased inside the home. Investigators later identified the suspect as Saleh Mohamed, who authorities believe is the husband of the adult female victim and the father of the two juvenile victims.
Mohamed was arraigned Monday night in Cheektowaga on multiple murder charges. Authorities also allege that he was responsible for a separate fatal shooting earlier in the day on Grant Street in Buffalo, where another man was killed. The connection between the incidents remains part of an ongoing investigation.
The tragic events sent shockwaves throughout the normally quiet neighborhood. Residents described a chaotic and frightening scene as police rapidly responded to the area. One neighbor, Nichole, recounted hearing alarming sounds shortly after returning home from a grocery shopping trip with her husband.
According to Nichole, the couple first heard loud yelling and screaming coming from nearby. Moments later, they heard what sounded like several gunshots. Concerned about what was happening, they stepped outside and soon witnessed police officers racing into the neighborhood.
“We went outside because we heard the yelling and we saw two cop cars approach around 3:15 p.m.,” she said. “We walked down toward the stop sign and then saw a whole swarm of police cars come flying down the street. That’s when we realized something very serious was happening.”
Nichole described how officers quickly secured the area, establishing a perimeter and blocking off nearby streets with police tape. Residents watched from a distance as investigators began processing the scene and gathering evidence.
In a statement released Monday, Cheektowaga Police emphasized that an extensive investigation had been launched immediately following the discovery of the victims. Authorities noted that, based on the preliminary stages of the investigation, there did not appear to be an ongoing threat to the public. Officials said they would promptly notify residents if circumstances changed.
“An immediate investigation has been launched into this major incident,” the department stated. “In the very early stages of this investigation there does not appear to be an ongoing danger to the public at large.”
Investigators continued working late into the evening, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses as they sought to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the deaths. Law enforcement agencies are expected to release additional information as the investigation progresses.
Officials indicated that a press conference may be held to provide further details regarding the case, including information about the victims, the circumstances surrounding the shootings, and the connection to the fatal Grant Street incident in Buffalo.
The heartbreaking loss of a mother and two children has left many community members searching for answers while mourning lives cut tragically short. Friends, neighbors, and local residents have begun expressing condolences as the community struggles to process the magnitude of the tragedy.
As investigators continue their work, authorities are also reminding individuals affected by domestic violence that help is available. Erie County’s Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Program provides support and resources for those experiencing abuse and can be reached at (716) 858-4630.
The investigation remains active, and additional information is expected to be released by law enforcement officials in the coming days.
Headline: Mother and Two Children Killed in Cheektowaga Triple Homicide; Saleh Mohamed Charged With Multiple Murders
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