A 64-year-old Dearborn man has died from injuries he suffered during a violent altercation inside his own home, and his 43-year-old brother, already charged with assault, could soon face upgraded murder charges as prosecutors reassess the case. Dearborn Police officers responded to a home in the 6500 block of Theisen Street after receiving reports of an assault in progress, an incident that ended with one sibling dead and the other behind bars on a $500,000 bond.
Police were called to the scene on the evening of last Wednesday, after an emergency dispatch reported an ongoing assault inside the residence, according to a timeline shared on Breaking News 989. Firefighters treated the injured 64-year-old man at the scene before he was taken to a hospital for further evaluation and treatment, as reported by The Detroit News. The man died from his injuries yesterday, three days after the altercation began.
The suspect, identified as Mohammed Rustom, was arraigned before Judge Mark Somers in Dearborn's 19th District Court last Thursday, the day after the assault. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office initially charged him with assault with intent to murder and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, per the Detroit News report. Judge Somers set Rustom's bond at $500,000 cash or surety, and he remains held in the Wayne County Jail pending the outcome of the case.
A Family Relationship Behind the Charges
Investigation records reported in August revealed that Rustom and the victim were brothers living together in the same household, according to coverage from TCDearborn. Police had initially described the incident more generally as a family altercation before that domestic detail emerged. Dearborn Police have not released the victim's name.
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin extended condolences to the victim's family and loved ones following the death, according to the Detroit News. Shahin said investigators will continue working with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office to hold the responsible individual accountable through the justice system. Shahin has served with the Dearborn Police Department since 1998 and was appointed chief in 2022 by Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud, according to the City of Dearborn.
What Happens Next in Court
Because the victim died after the original assault charges were authorized, Dearborn Police will submit the case back to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for consideration of additional or amended charges, the Detroit News reports. Under Michigan criminal procedure, prosecutors in this situation typically review whether to file second-degree or first-degree murder charges, according to Grabel & Associates. Second-degree murder can carry a sentence of up to life imprisonment, while first-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life without parole.
The initial charge of assault with intent to murder, brought under Michigan Compiled Laws Section 750.83, is a felony carrying a potential penalty of life imprisonment or any term of years, and prosecutors must prove specific intent to kill beyond a reasonable doubt. The secondary charge, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder under Section 750.84, is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Rustom is set to appear for a probable cause conference on Sept. 2 in Dearborn's 19th District Court. Under Michigan Compiled Laws Section 766.4, that conference must be held between 7 and 14 days following an arraignment to address plea discussions, bond conditions, and pre-examination logistics. Dearborn's 19th District Court handles initial felony arraignments and preliminary examinations, but any trial and sentencing in the case would be bound over to Wayne County Circuit Court, according to the Barone Defense Firm.
Department Under Statewide Review
The Dearborn Police Department underwent an on-site evaluation by the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission in July, a process that verifies compliance with 130 professional standards covering agency management, investigative practices, and risk mitigation, according to the City of Dearborn. It is unclear whether the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office has yet filed amended homicide charges against Rustom ahead of his upcoming court date.
