Phoenix PD: Couple Dead In Murder-Suicide After Domestic Violence

PHOENIX — A 911 call ended in gunshots, just moments after police left a Phoenix home Sunday following domestic violence allegations.

The Phoenix Police Department suspect a man killed his wife in a murder-suicide while she was on the phone with 911 dispatchers, accusing him of domestic violence.

Sgt. Tommy Thompson, spokesman for the Phoenix police, said officers responded to the home of 52-year-old Abul Habib and his wife, Syeda Akter, 43, near 39th Avenue and Baseline Road just before 9:30 p.m. Akter called police following a verbal argument with her husband. Habib left the house before police arrived but officers spoke with Akter and her adult son for about 15 minutes and advised her to call 911 if Habib returned.

He did, just five minutes after officers and Akter's son left the home.

"[Akter] was in the process of saying her husband had returned when the operator heard what sounded like gunshots," Thompson said in a statement. "Akter said nothing else."

A crisis entry team arrived on the scene and found Akter and Habib dead with gunshot wounds. Thompson said the gun was recovered.

Phoenix police said in August that domestic violence deaths in the city have more than doubled during the first half of 2020. In the first half of 2019, there were 10 deaths linked to domestic violence. In 2020, that number jumped to 24. Calls began to increase during the pandemic, the department said.

The Phoenix Police Department offers resources for anyone struggling with domestic violence.