Surveillance video just released by investigators is pulling back the curtain on the moments before and after a deadly shooting outside a south Seattle hookah lounge, showing a brief fight at the entrance and the gunfire that followed. The victim was rushed to Harborview Medical Center and later pronounced dead, and prosecutors say the newly shared views bolster a case built heavily on video and forensic evidence.
New Footage, New Angles
According to KIRO 7, the clip released Monday includes exterior and interior camera angles that capture a confrontation at the front gate and people inside the lounge diving for cover as shots are fired. The station reports that the added perspectives clarify how the altercation unfolded and show moments outside the business that had not been previously made public.
What Detectives Detail In The Case
Charging documents and surveillance reviewed by investigators indicate the victim, 34-year-old Khalif Hussein, was briefly fighting with a man outside the Evangadi Hookah Lounge before the suspect got up, pulled a handgun and fired through the front gate, according to Kent Reporter. Detectives later found a discarded sweatshirt with a mixed DNA profile that was linked through CODIS and traced a scooter rental account to the suspect, evidence prosecutors say helped them identify the defendant.
Charges, Plea And What Comes Next
Authorities charged 30-year-old Abdulrahman M. Hussein in late December, and he entered a not-guilty plea at his Jan. 14 arraignment, KIRO 7 reports. Hussein remains in custody on a $3 million bond while the case moves through pretrial proceedings.
Neighborhood Tensions Around The Lounge
The Evangadi lounge was already on the city's radar before the December shooting and was one of the venues flagged in efforts to crack down on late-night violence, according to The Seattle Times. City officials and public safety leaders have pointed to multiple violent incidents tied to after-hours clubs and hookah lounges while weighing tougher regulations and nuisance enforcement for problem locations.
How To Reach Investigators
Detectives are continuing to analyze video and other evidence and are asking anyone with information to contact investigators. Tipsters can call the Seattle Police Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
