TONAWANDA, NY – A 22-year-old man has been arraigned in court for the April 20th murder of a 19-year-old in Tonawanda.
According to Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn, 22-year-old Michael Atkinson of the Town of Tonawanda was arraigned yesterday morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case on an indictment charging him with one count of Manslaughter one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
According to Flynn, “It is alleged that on April 20, 2022, at approximately 1:20 a.m., the defendant shot and stabbed the victim during a fight on James Avenue near River Road in the Town of Tonawanda. The victim, 19-year-old Harith Mohamed Alkahalaf, died from his injuries nearby a short time later.”
Police at the time reported the defendant was taken in a private vehicle to Kenmore Mercy where he was treated for minor stab wounds.
Atkinson was held on $100,000 bail. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.