In the early hours of April 20, 2022, a violent altercation on James Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda, New York, tragically cut short the life of 19-year-old Harith Mohamed Alkhalaf of Buffalo. The incident, which occurred at approximately 1:20 a.m. near the Sumitomo Rubber Plant, involved another man and resulted in Alkhalaf's death at the scene from shooting and stabbing injuries.
Responding to reports of a fight, Town of Tonawanda Police arrived to find the fatal consequences of the encounter. While Harith Mohamed Alkhalaf was pronounced dead, the other individual involved, later identified as 23-year-old Michael A. Atkinson of the Town of Tonawanda, was transported by a private vehicle to Kenmore Mercy Hospital for treatment of minor stab wounds. Initially, no arrests were made as the investigation commenced, with police assuring the public that it was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat.
The subsequent investigation led to legal proceedings against Michael A. Atkinson. He was charged with Manslaughter in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. Following a four-day trial, a jury rendered its verdict on September 19, 2023. Atkinson was found not guilty of the manslaughter charge. However, he was convicted of criminal possession of a weapon.
On May 21, 2024, Michael A. Atkinson was sentenced for his conviction. A judge ordered him to serve 7 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years of post-release supervision for his role in the events that led to the death of Harith Mohamed Alkhalaf.
