A Highland Park hit-and-run that left two Detroit men badly hurt has now turned into a slate of felony convictions for the man behind the wheel. Yesterday, a jury found 32-year-old Auorahem Jatoo Safar of Dearborn Heights guilty of seven felonies tied to the April 2025 crash, including assault with intent to murder, tampering with evidence and failing to stop at the scene of a serious wreck. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 13 in Wayne County’s 3rd Circuit Court.
Verdict and convictions
Jurors convicted Safar on two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of operating a vehicle while license suspended causing serious injury, one count of tampering with evidence and two counts of failing to stop at the scene of a crash, according to ClickOnDetroit. He was acquitted of two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm and two alleged hate-crime counts, the outlet reports. The verdict followed days of testimony and evidence in a Wayne County jury trial.
Crash, victims and arrest timeline
Prosecutors say the case stems from an April 20, 2025 crash near West McNichols and Hamilton Avenue that left a 57-year-old man and a 47-year-old man, both from Detroit, with serious injuries, according to a May 1 press release from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. Highland Park police said Safar drove away from the scene. Investigators later identified him as a suspect, and officers arrested him about a week after the crash. He was originally charged with 11 felonies, including alleged hate-crime counts, according to the press release.
Sentencing and next steps
Safar is set to return to court for sentencing at noon on July 13 before Judge Chandra Baker-Robinson in Wayne County’s 3rd Circuit Court, according to ClickOnDetroit. Prosecutors have not publicly filed a recommended sentence, and court records show additional hearings on the calendar as the case moves toward that date. Defense counsel did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The law and potential penalties
Under Michigan law, assault with intent to commit murder is a felony that can carry life in prison or any term of years, according to the Michigan Legislature. State law also requires drivers to stop and report crashes that cause serious injury, and leaving the scene in those cases is a felony punishable by up to five years, with tougher penalties if a victim dies, per the Michigan Legislature. How those sentencing ranges stack up in Safar’s case will be up to the judge in July, after the court weighs aggravating and mitigating factors.
