Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty for Attempting to Injure Victim in Shooting in City's Black Rock Neighborhood

Modified: January 24, 2023 1:47pm

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1/24/2023

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 24-year-old Abdulla Abdalla, also known as “Dooley,” of Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case 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 to all counts in the indictment against him.  

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. 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 gunfire, but was hit by a piece of plastic shrapnel from the driver’s side door panel that 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 curb on Howell Street.

Abdalla faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on Monday, March 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. He was held without bail.

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.