Buffalo, N.Y. – June 2, 2026 – A rapidly unfolding investigation in western New York has led to the arrest of a 28-year-old Cheektowaga man for a fatal shooting on Buffalo’s Grant Street, even as homicide detectives from two jurisdictions work to determine whether the same individual is linked to a grisly triple homicide discovered at his own residence.
The case, which has sent shockwaves through both the city’s West Side and the inner-ring suburb of Cheektowaga, centers on Saleh Mohamed, who was taken into custody Monday evening and now faces a charge of Murder in the Second Degree.
The interrelated investigations began separately but converged with startling speed, leaving residents on both sides of the Buffalo-Cheektowaga border struggling to comprehend how one man could be tied to as many as four deaths in a single day. As of Tuesday morning, authorities have confirmed only one homicide charge against Mohamed, but the triple homicide investigation at his home remains active, with no additional arrests announced.
The Grant Street Shooting: A Fatal Afternoon
According to the Buffalo Police Department, officers assigned to the D District received multiple 911 calls shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026, reporting gunfire in the 1000 block of Grant Street – a busy commercial corridor lined with bodegas, restaurants, and apartment buildings, known as a hub for Buffalo’s immigrant and working-class communities.
When officers arrived within three minutes, they found an adult male lying on the sidewalk in front of a laundromat, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest. First responders from American Medical Response (AMR) immediately began life-saving measures, including chest compressions, airway management, and the application of a chest seal. Despite their efforts, the victim – whose identity has not yet been released pending family notification – was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:48 p.m.
Buffalo Police Homicide Unit detectives, led by Captain Theresa Scalzo, secured the scene and began canvassing the area for witnesses and surveillance footage. Neighbors told investigators they heard two loud pops, then saw a man of medium build running eastbound on Grant Street toward Hampshire Street, clutching a dark-colored hoodie.
“I heard ‘pop, pop’ and thought it was fireworks,” said Maria Estrada, who lives above a bodega at the corner of Grant and Breckenridge Streets. “Then I saw a man fall. Someone screamed. I looked out my window and saw a man running – he wasn’t wearing a mask, but he pulled his hood up as he ran.”
That description helped detectives narrow their search. Within two hours, through witness interviews and rapid analysis of private security camera footage from at least four businesses along Grant Street, investigators identified a suspect: Saleh Mohamed, 28, of Cheektowaga.
The Arrest of Saleh Mohamed
Buffalo Police did not disclose the specific evidence linking Mohamed to the Grant Street homicide, but sources close to the investigation told this reporter that Mohamed’s vehicle – a silver 2022 Honda Civic – was captured on surveillance video circling the block three times in the minutes before the shooting. Additionally, a cell phone recovered from the scene (not the victim’s) allegedly contained messages consistent with a planned meeting or dispute.
Mohamed was taken into custody without incident at approximately 6:15 p.m. Monday at a relative’s home on Walden Avenue in Cheektowaga. He has been charged with Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A-I felony under New York State Penal Law, which carries a potential sentence of 15 years to life in prison upon conviction. He was transported to the Erie County Holding Center and is expected to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Buffalo City Court.
Police have not disclosed a motive for the Grant Street shooting. However, investigators are exploring the possibility that the victim and Mohamed knew each other, as opposed to a random act of violence. The victim’s name has been withheld, but sources say he was a 34-year-old Buffalo resident with no prior criminal record.
The Cheektowaga Triple Homicide Connection
What has elevated this case from a single homicide to a regional crisis is the parallel investigation unfolding just a few miles east. The Cheektowaga Police Department is currently investigating the deaths of three individuals discovered Monday at a residence on Harlem Road, near the intersection with George Urban Boulevard.
Cheektowaga Police Chief Brian Gould confirmed in a brief statement Monday evening that officers were called to a home in the 1300 block of Harlem Road around 4:15 p.m. for a welfare check requested by a concerned family member who had not been able to reach two adults and a teenager since Sunday night. Inside, officers found three deceased individuals. Their identities have not been released, but sources describe them as a man, a woman, and a 16-year-old female. All three suffered apparent gunshot wounds.
Critically, Cheektowaga property records show that the residence at 1347 Harlem Road – the address where the three bodies were found – is owned by Saleh Mohamed. The property was purchased in 2019, and public records list Mohamed as the sole owner. Neighbors told reporters that Mohamed lived in the house with his wife and two young children, though the wife and children have not been seen since Sunday.
When asked whether the three deceased individuals were family members of Saleh Mohamed, Chief Gould declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation. However, law enforcement sources speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that the adult female victim is believed to be Mohamed’s wife, and the teenage victim is believed to be his daughter from a previous relationship. The adult male victim’s relationship to Mohamed remains unclear.
Are the Cases Connected?
Buffalo Police confirmed Monday evening that they have been in direct communication with Cheektowaga Police Department detectives, sharing evidence, witness statements, and forensic data. At this time, however, officials have not publicly confirmed whether the Grant Street homicide and the Harlem Road triple homicide are directly connected.
“We are aware of the tragic incident in Cheektowaga, and our detectives are working collaboratively with their counterparts there,” said Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia in a written statement. “It would be premature to draw conclusions about a connection until all forensic evidence has been analyzed. Right now, each investigation is proceeding on its own track.”
Nevertheless, the geographic and temporal proximity – both incidents occurred on Monday, within four miles of each other – and Mohamed’s ownership of the Cheektowaga property have fueled intense speculation. One theory being explored by investigators is that Mohamed may have committed the triple homicide at his home first, then traveled to Grant Street for a targeted shooting, or vice versa. Another possibility is that Mohamed was not present during the Cheektowaga deaths, which could have been carried out by another party.
The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office has completed preliminary autopsies on all four victims (the Grant Street victim and the three individuals from Cheektowaga) but has not yet released cause-of-death determinations pending toxicology and ballistic testing. Sources say all four died from gunshot wounds, and shell casings recovered at both scenes appear similar in caliber – 9mm – but confirmation awaits forensic analysis.
Community Reactions and Public Safety Concerns
The dual investigations have left residents of both Buffalo’s West Side and Cheektowaga’s Harlem Road corridor on edge. On Grant Street, a makeshift memorial of candles, flowers, and a single teddy bear has appeared near the laundromat where the man was killed. Business owners say they are worried about a decline in foot traffic.
“People are scared,” said Ahmed Alwan, owner of Grant Street Grocery. “This is a family neighborhood. Many of us came here to escape violence in other countries. Now it’s here.”
In Cheektowaga, neighbors on Harlem Road described the Mohamed household as quiet but insular. “They kept the blinds drawn,” said Ruth Patterson, who lives two doors down. “Sometimes you’d see the little kids playing in the backyard, but the adults never waved or said hello. Now we know why, I guess. It’s terrifying.”
Cheektowaga Central School District officials confirmed that a 16-year-old female who attended Cheektowaga High School is among the deceased, though they did not name her. Counselors were made available at the high school Tuesday morning.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
Saleh Mohamed remains in custody at the Erie County Holding Center. He is expected to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon before Buffalo City Court Judge Craig Hannah on the single count of Murder in the Second Degree. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office, led by District Attorney John Flynn, will prosecute the case. A spokesperson for the DA’s office said additional charges could be filed if the Cheektowaga deaths are determined to be linked to Mohamed.
Defense attorney Leonard Cohen, who has been retained to represent Mohamed but has not yet met with his client privately, declined to comment on the allegations. “Mr. Mohamed is presumed innocent,” Cohen said outside the holding center. “We will review the evidence at the appropriate time.”
If convicted of second-degree murder, Mohamed faces a minimum of 15 years to life in prison. New York State abolished the death penalty in 2004.
Ongoing Investigations and How to Help
Both the Buffalo Police Department and the Cheektowaga Police Department are continuing their active, ongoing investigations. Detectives are gathering evidence, conducting interviews, and establishing a complete timeline of events surrounding the incidents. Key unanswered questions include:
· The identity of the Grant Street homicide victim.
· The relationship, if any, between the victim and Saleh Mohamed.
· Whether Mohamed was present at the Cheektowaga residence at the time of the three deaths.
· The motive for both incidents.
Authorities are asking anyone with information that may assist investigators to contact the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Unit at (716) 851-4466 or the Cheektowaga Police Department Detective Bureau at (716) 686-3500. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers WNY at (716) 867-6161 or via the mobile app.
A Final Note on Presumption of Innocence
Police emphasize that criminal charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Saleh Mohamed has not yet entered a plea. The investigations remain fluid, and additional arrests have not been ruled out.
As Buffalo and Cheektowaga mourn at least one confirmed victim – and likely four – the coming days will bring autopsies, ballistic reports, and potentially a joint press conference from both police departments. For now, the only certainty is that two communities are united in grief, waiting for answers that may be even more painful than the questions.
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