CHEEKTOWAGA, NY – An 18-year-old has been charged with two counts of kidnapping and one count of first-degree robbery after abducting a woman and her toddler in September. The next day he carjacked and kidnapped another woman.
According to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Josu Lubala has been identified as the suspect in an abduction and carjacking outside a Buffalo park.
At around 10:45 am, the victim and her child were approached by Lubala at knifepoint outside Cheektowaga Town Park near Harlem Road and Greenleaf Lane. At knifepoint, Lubala forced the woman and her child into her car and drove away with them.
Lubala eventually set his victims free near Wick Street. He then fled in the woman’s car.
ed the victim and the toddler to exit the vehicle. The defendant allegedly fled in the victim’s vehicle.
The next day, police responded to a second carjacking and kidnapping. Officers responded to the Alexander Community Center to find a second woman was abducted by Lubala.
“The second female victim was sitting in the front passenger seat when the defendant allegedly entered through the driver’s side of the vehicle. The defendant is accused of attempting to rob and kidnap the victim by threatening her with a knife,” police said. “The victim was able to escape and run for help. A witness called 911 and reported the incident to police. Cheektowaga Police officers located the defendant on Walden Avenue a short time later and arrested him after a brief chase.”