Somali Father Beats 10year Stepson to death
Neighbors of dead child suspected issues at home
By: Ryan Whalen
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Neighbors of Abdifatah Mohamud said they were saddened Wednesday by news of the ten-year-old's death, but some said they suspected there may have been issues in the home.
Buffalo Police responded to a missing person call Tuesday night on Guilford Street in Buffalo. There, they found ten-year-old Abdifatah Mohamud dead in the basement.
"There were certain indication that the victim had been beaten and it was certainly a disturbing scene," Buffalo Police Chief Dennis Richards said.
The boy's stepfather, 40-year-old Ali-Mohamad Mohamud, has been arrested and pleaded not guilty Wednesday to second degree murder charges.
In court, the prosecution said the boy had been beaten, his hands were bound, and there was a sock duct-taped in his mouth.
"The defendant is alleged to have given a statement to the Buffalo Police. It's further alleged that he made certain admissions, which I'd rather not detail at this time," Assistant District Attorney Thomas Finnerty said. "It's simply too early in the process."
Neighbors said Abdifatah had issues with his stepfather on several occasions.
"The boy kept telling us stories how his father is always beating him up and how one day he called the police and came running over here to hide," Abdifatah's former babysitter, Joseline Furaha, said.
"Lately, things just have been very upsetting down there. We don't know what it is, but you can feel something's not right when the child don't come out like it used to," neighbor Angelette Perry said.
The child went to International Preparatory School in Buffalo. Neighbors said he was well-known in the community and was very smart.
"He would come here and ask me to help with his homework and stuff. He would ask me about my school and like try to do my homework and he would kind of get it," Furaha said.
"It's sad to know I'm not going to see this little boy playing with my nephew any more," Perry said.
Ali-Mohamad Mohamud is scheduled to appear in court for a felony hearing Monday.
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