An east side Buffalo man is in custody following a grim discovery at his home on Guilford Street near Broadway.
Buffalo Police today formally announced the arrest of Ali-Mohamad Mohamud for the beating death of his 10-year-old stepson Abdifatah Mohamud in their home at 30 Guilford.
Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards told reporters police went to the arrest shortly after 10 p.m. after receiving a report about a missing child.
"Officer Chris Fields was the officer who went to investigate. He checked the residence first for a missing 10-year-old. He went to the basement of the residence and found a deceased 10-year-old male," Richards said
Richards says officer determined the suspect had fled in a red Subaru Forrester. The car was located near Washington and Scott streets downtown at The Buffalo News offices where Mohamud works as a security guard. The man was arrested a short time later.
Mohamud has been charged with second-degree murder. The motive remains under investigation, but police say the man took his stepson into the basement to "discipline" him. Richards said there were obvious signs of foul play where the boy's body was found.
Interim Buffalo Schools Superintendent Amber Dixon released the following statement on the boy's death:
It is my great sorrow to inform you that a student of International Preparatory School was found dead in his home late Tuesday night.
The District Crisis Team has joined the school’s Student Support Team to provide counseling and will be assigned to the school until further notice. Counselors are available for students, parents, and staff. Special transportation arrangements have been made for students who are continuing with counseling after school today.
As a school community, we will do all that we can to comfort those students and staff who are most affected by this tragic end to a young life.