Squatter gets life in prison for murders of handymen

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A squatter was given life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of two handymen on Buffalo’s East Side in April 2024.

Dale Cummings, 33, murdered the two Bangladeshi handymen, 59-year-old Babul Meah and 39-year-old Abu Yousuf, at a residence on the 100 block of Zenner Street on April 27, 2024. Cummings was living unlawfully in the upper floor apartment of the residence when he shot and killed the two men as they entered the apartment to perform repairs at the house. Both men were shot multiple times.

After the shooting police said Cummings exited the house through the rear door within minutes of the initial 911 call. He was arrested the next day. Police found a high-capacity magazine in Cummings’ backpack and forensic analysis determined it was the gun used in the murders.

“These two men were working as handymen when they encountered an armed squatter inside a vacant home,” Erie County DA Mike Keane said in a statement Thursday. “Tragically, their lives ended when this defendant intentionally shot both victims with an illegal semi-automatic rifle near the entrance and continued to fire shots as they retreated outside.”

In June, Cummings was convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Cummings was given the maximum sentence.

Yousuf’s wife and 8-year-old child read an emotional impact statement in court over video conference. Yousuf’s family has moved back to Bangladesh and Meah’s family has moved to Maryland.