They said a 20-year-old man was shot and killed on Cedar Road on Saturday during a fight.
A family friend told 7 News that the victim was MDrawnaq Ratin, who is 20 years old.
Ratin’s dad, MDataur Liton, said, “My wife called and said, ‘Your son was shot.'” “My son is a good person, so I can’t believe I don’t know who shot him.”
A friend of Ratin’s, Hammad Latif, told 7 News that there was a fight over a parking spot in front of an empty lot on Cedar Road. Latif said that they often hung out there.
“All of a sudden, [the shooter] didn’t like how he was parking there.” “He got mad for no reason, even though it was free parking and a road,” Latif said. “He tried to attack him and make threats against us.” He took out his gun. Just as we were getting back to the car, he shot him.
Ratin’s family thinks that the killing was about more than just a parking spot.
Liton said, “I think this is a hate crime; they may not like us.”
Cheektowaga Police told 7 News that they don’t know yet if this was a hate crime or not.
Police say that around 5 p.m. Saturday, someone who said they were the shooter called 911 to report what happened.
Officers started to try to save Ratin’s life until he was taken by ambulance to ECMC, where he later died.
A gun was found at the scene by police. Police told 7 News that they have to finish their investigation before they can make any arrests, even though someone said they were the shooter.
They don’t think there is any danger to the people.
As of right now, no one has been caught.
Since no one has been caught yet, Ratin’s family is asking for justice.
Liton said, “I am very sad, and I want law and order.”
Latif said, “Make sure he knows what’s right.”
Cheektowaga Police Captain Jeffrey Schmidt said, “We want people in our community to be patient and calm while we work to gather and analyze evidence from the crime scene.”
The Cheektowaga Police Detective Bureau can be reached at (716) 686-3510 by anyone who has information or video.
Ratin’s family tells 7 News that there will be a funeral service on Monday at 5 p.m. at the Buffalo Muslim Center.