By Susan Montoya Bryan, Stephanie Dazio and Mariam Fam | Related Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — After he was detained by New Mexico police, the suspect within the killings of 4 Muslim males in Albuquerque denied any connection to the crimes that shook town and its small Muslim group — and instructed authorities he was so unnerved by the violence that he was driving to Houston looking for a brand new dwelling for his household, courtroom paperwork stated.
The paperwork made public Tuesday night time in a legal grievance stated Muhammad Syed, 51, had solely clothes, sneakers and a handgun in his automobile when he was arrested Monday throughout a visitors cease greater than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from his Albuquerque dwelling.
However investigators decided that bullet casings present in Syed’s car matched the caliber of the weapons believed to have been utilized in two of the killings and that casings discovered at these crime scenes had been linked to a gun discovered at Syed’s dwelling, the legal grievance stated.
Syed, an Afghan immigrant, instructed detectives with help from a Pashto interpreter that he had been with the particular forces in Afghanistan and fought towards the Taliban, the grievance stated. He additionally denied any involvement within the killings throughout the interview with detectives, in keeping with the grievance.
The ambush killings of the 4 Muslim males in numerous exterior areas round Albuquerque despatched worry rippling via the Muslim group of New Mexico’s largest metropolis however generated ideas that led to the arrest of Syed, who knew the victims, authorities stated.
He was scheduled to seem in courtroom Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors deliberate to ask that he be held with out bail pending trial and courtroom paperwork didn't record an legal professional who might communicate on his behalf.
Following the arrest, Albuquerque’s Muslim group breathed “an unbelievable sigh of aid,” stated Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Middle of New Mexico. “Lives have been turned the wrong way up.”
The primary killing final November was adopted by three extra between July 26 and Aug. 5.
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina stated it was not clear but whether or not the deaths ought to be categorized as hate crimes or serial killings or each.
Syed had lived in the US for about 5 years, police stated.
“The offender knew the victims to some extent, and an interpersonal battle could have led to the shootings,” a police assertion stated, though investigators had been nonetheless working to determine how that they had crossed paths.
When requested particularly if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was indignant that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock didn't reply straight. He stated “motives are nonetheless being explored totally to grasp what they're.”
Assed acknowledged that “there was a wedding,” however he cautioned towards coming to any conclusions in regards to the motivation of Syed, who sometimes attended the middle’s mosque.
In 2017, a boyfriend of Syed’s daughter reported to police that Syed, his spouse and one among their sons had pulled him out of a automobile, punching and kicking him earlier than driving away, in keeping with courtroom paperwork. The boyfriend, who was discovered with a bloody nostril, scratches and bruises, instructed police that he was attacked as a result of they didn't need her in a relationship with him.
Syed was arrested in Might 2018 after a battle together with his spouse turned violent, courtroom paperwork stated. Prosecutors stated each circumstances had been later dismissed after the victims declined to press prices.
Syed additionally was arrested in 2020 after he was accused of refusing to tug over for police after operating a visitors gentle, however that case was finally dismissed, courtroom paperwork stated.
The Albuquerque slayings drew the eye of President Joe Biden, who stated such assaults “haven't any place in America.” In addition they despatched a shudder via Muslim communities throughout the U.S. Some folks questioned their security and restricted their actions.
“There isn't any justification for this evil. There isn't any justification to take an harmless life,” Nihad Awad, government director of the Council on American–Islamic Relations, stated at a Tuesday information convention in Washington, D.C.
He referred to as the killings “deranged habits.”
The earliest case entails the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.
Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan, was killed final Friday. His dying got here simply days after these of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who had been additionally from Pakistan and members of the identical mosque.
Ehsan Chahalmi, the brother-in-law of Naeem Hussain, stated he was “a beneficiant, form, giving, forgiving and loving soul that has been taken away from us eternally.”
Investigators think about Syed to be the first suspect within the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi however haven't but filed prices in these circumstances.
The announcement that the shootings gave the impression to be linked produced greater than 200 ideas, together with one from the Muslim group that police credited with main them to the Syed household.
Police stated they had been about to go looking Syed’s Albuquerque dwelling on Monday once they noticed him drive away in a Volkswagen Jetta that investigators consider was utilized in a minimum of one of many slayings.
Syed’s sons had been questioned and launched, in keeping with authorities.
Dazio reported from Los Angeles and Fam from Winter Park, Florida. Related Press author Robert Jablon in Los Angeles and researchers Rhonda Shafner and Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.