An El Cajon man has been slapped with murder and attempted murder raps after reportedly going ballistic in a dental office shooting spree that left one dead and two wounded. Prosecutors charged Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29, for the bloodshed which unfolded on February 29. If the courts convict him on all counts, Abdulkareem's looking at a one-way ticket to life behind bars.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan stepped up to announce the charges today, stating, "Today is the first step in seeking justice for the victims, their families, friends, and community in this tragic case." In the same breath, Stephan was quick to heap praise on El Cajon Police Chief Mike Moulton and his squad for their "thorough and professional work" that led to quickly nab the suspect. Abdulkareem, who was a known figure at the dental office due to his ongoing beef over dental work, supposedly tried to flee the scene in a rental truck, according to officials.
The courtroom drama began this afternoon as Abdulkareem first appeared in San Diego Superior Court. Meanwhile, prosecutors have been arguing to keep him behind bars without bail, painting a grim picture of the defendant allegedly blasting away with a semiautomatic handgun and unloading at least 23 rounds in what must've been the longest minutes in the lives of those present.
"We grieve the loss of Dr. Benjamin Harouni along with his family," DA Stephan remarked, signaling the weight of the tragedy that struck the community. The gun, found with the suspect, had been legally bought and was received by Abdulkareem just five days before the chaos, authorities say. The DA's hate crimes team is also digging deep into the case, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to possible motives, and they're not ruling out slapping on additional charges as new evidence comes to light.
Abdulkareem, perhaps unsurprisingly, entered a plea of not guilty. His next rendezvous with the court is set for March 12, where he'll stand for a readiness hearing.
