Buffalo man indicted on murder, gun charges for fatal Bird Avenue shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Buffalo man was indicted Friday morning on murder and gun charges after a fatal shooting took place on Buffalo's West Side in August, the Erie County District Attorney's Office announced.

Edward Harwell, 38, was indicted on one count of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Officials said at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 3, police responded to a reported shooting on the 200 block of Bird Avenue where they found the victim, 21-year-old Kabah Kabah, with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was pronounced deceased.

Edward is accused of intentionally causing the death of the victim by shooting him with an illegal gun, according to the district attorney's office.

A couple of minutes after the first call, an officer saw a vehicle traveling eastbound on Route 198 near Delaware Park, which allegedly matched the description of the suspect vehicle that fled the area after the shooting, officials said.

The officer followed the suspect vehicle as it went onto the Kensington Expressway, into downtown Buffalo, and then onto the Skyway. Officials said while on the Skyway, the officer allegedly saw the occupants throw multiple objects, which appeared to be handguns, out of the vehicle's window.

The vehicle was stopped by officers near the Fuhrmann Boulevard exit and the driver, Edward, and two passengers were taken into custody. One of the passengers, a 17-year-old male, tried to run, but was then apprehended, officials said.

The district attorney's office said officers allegedly recovered two loaded firearms from the vehicle's flight path.

Two co-defendants, Mekhi Harwell, 21, and a 17-year-old male, both of Buffalo, were also indicted for their alleged involvement, officials said. They were arraigned Friday morning and are each charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Edward faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison, if convicted of the highest charge. The conviction of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon holds a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

Edward, Mekhi and the 17-year-old are scheduled to return for a pre-trial conference on Oct. 10. Edward and the adolescent offender were held without bail and Mekhi previously posted a $30,000 bond and remains released on bail, officials said.