'The community is in pain right now:' Bangladeshi community says final goodbyes to one of two local fathers shot and killed
BUFFALO N.Y. (WIVB) - Thousands of members in the Bangladeshi community gathered to say their goodbyes to Abu Yusuf, who was one of the two fathers senselessly shot and killed on Zenner Street in Buffalo on Saturday.
"We lost our own brother from the community. The community is in pain right now. We are going through a lot right now and showing the support and solidarity," said community activist Sahi Chowdhury.
More than 1,500 people packed inside the Buffalo Muslim Center on Fillmore Avenue pay their respects to Yusuf and show their support for his family. Yusuf leaves behind a pregnant wife and two young children.
"This has been a very difficult time for the whole community. The emotions are very raw and everyone wants to join in and pay their regards before he's taken for burial purpose," said founding president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council of WNY Khalid Qazi.
Yusuf was shot and killed while working maintenance. His coworker, Babul Meah, was also shot and killed. Police say a squatter inside the home on Zenner Street randomly shot and killed the men when they approached the home. Meah leaves behind a wife and seven children.
"Both of them were not living a lavish life. They were hard working. The real American story of hard work and putting the bread on the table at night," Qazi said.
The Muslim community is rallying around the two families and raising money to help with living expenses, basic needs and family care. GoFundMe pages can be found here for Yusuf's family and Meah's family.
"There are many issues and I don't think we have the answer to everything right this minute, but I'm hoping with the dedication of the community we'll be able to address those needs," Qazi said.
Community activists credit the Buffalo police in finding and arresting 31-year-old Dale Cummings who is a person of interest in Saturday's double homicide.
"We are really happy about that. Police department, Mayor Byron Brown, he supported us a lot," said community activist Abdul Mannan. "They came to the Buffalo Muslim Center and said we'll take care of it and they did and we really appreciate that."
Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.