A 30-year-old Kuwaiti man, Salih Ali Mohammed Alhemoud, stands accused of preying upon transgender women in Houston, engaging in what prosecutors have described as a hate-fueled crime spree. According to federal court records, Alhemoud faces multiple felony charges concerning the kidnapping and assaulting of two transgender individuals he allegedly connected with through social media platforms.
Alhemoud's indictment last Wednesday encompasses six felony charges. The indictment, which comes after an initial set of charges in 2022, may land Alhemoud an extensive prison sentence, according to the Houston Chronicle. Investigators traced these violent interactions back to the summer of 2022, where Alhemoud allegedly employed Grindr to reach out to his victims.
An FBI complaint filed in the Southern District of Texas outlines a string of incidents, including threats with firearms and assaults, that began Alhemound's investigation. One victim described a harrowing encounter in which Alhemoud arrived at her apartment, brandishing a pistol, and after being told there was no cash, he physically assaulted her while hurling transphobic and homophobic slurs before, threatening to kill her, claimed the victim.
Existing charges against Alhemoud already included hate crime, kidnapping, and brandishing of a firearm. However, the new superseding indictment broadened the scope of his alleged criminal conduct. The federal indictment specifically pertains to assaults in August and September, whereas local charges addressed by Harris County District Court also include aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, and evading arrest, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
In a pursuit of justice and to aid in the investigation, the FBI encouraged other possible victims to come forward. In a statement by the FBI Houston on X, they emphasized the gravity of the situation and urged those affected to contact authorities. "Salih Alhemoud, 28, of Houston is in custody on federal hate crime charges. He's accused of using Grindr to set up a date with a transgender victim he violently beat and robbed. There may be others. If you believe you're a victim, please call FBI Houston at 713-693-5000."
Salih Alhemoud, 28, of Houston is in custody on federal hate crime charges. He's accused of using Grindr to set up a date with a transgender victim he violently beat and robbed. There may be others. If you believe you're a victim, please call FBI Houston at 713-693-5000. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/vhakoY1Ady
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) December 8, 2022
Alhemoud, currently in custody, was considered by a magistrate judge as having "no ties to Houston," most of his family residing in Kuwait, as detailed by the Houston Chronicle. His next appearance for arraignment is set for a federal court in Houston tomorrow. Attempts to reach Alhemoud's defense attorney for comment were unsuccessful.
