Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 24-year-old Abdulla Abdalla, also known as “Dooley,” of Buffalo was sentenced yesterday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to 5 years in prison followed by 4 years of post-release supervision.
On January 19, 2021, at approximately 10:30 p.m., the victim was sitting inside of his parked vehicle when he was approached by the defendant on Howell Street in the City of Buffalo. The defendant and the victim were engaged in an ongoing dispute involving a female. During the encounter, the victim saw the defendant reach for an object inside of his satchel as he made threatening statements toward the victim. The victim, believing that the defendant was in possession of a handgun, attempted to flee by driving off.
As the victim drove away, the defendant intentionally fired multiple shots from an illegal gun into the vehicle. The victim was not injured by the gunfire, but was hit by a piece of plastic shrapnel from the driver’s side door panel, which was damaged as a result of the shooting.
The victim drove to a gas station on Niagara Street and Bird Avenue where he called police to report the crime. Buffalo Police investigators recovered one bullet and bullet fragments from the victim’s car as well as a six fired cartridge cases from the sidewalk and the curb on Howell Street.
Abdalla pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felonies). The defendant pleaded guilty, as charged, to all counts in the indictment against him on January 24, 2023.
DA Flynn commends Detective Zachary Burgess and Officers Chelsey Rogowski, Jenna Hornberger and James Matyjasik of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Patrick B. Shanahan and Assistant District Attorney William Fitzgerald of the Felony Trials Bureau.