Windsor Locks Police Disseminate More Details About 2005 Homicide Case

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Police on Thursday released more details about a 2005 homicide case which had gone cold for many years, but was re-activated last year, leading to the arrest of one suspect thus far.

Earlier Thursday, Mohammad Ali, 38, was presented in Hartford Superior Court. He is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and criminal liability for acts of another (murder). At his arraignment, his bond was ordered kept at $1 million.

On March 26, the U.S. Marshals-led Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team and local police arrested Ali in Dublin, Ohio. He was extradited back to Connecticut to face charges in connection with his role in the slaying of Mureed Hussain 20 years ago.

On the morning of Feb. 9, 2005, Windsor Locks police were dispatched to the intersection of South Main Street and School Street after a body was found thrown over a guardrail on the east side of Route 159, or South Main Street, across from the intersection with School Street, police said.

The body was identified as that of Hussain, 35, who had been fatally shot in the head, police said.

At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Det. Sgt. Jeff Lampson described Hussain as "a family man" with two young children, who was employed as a construction worker. He took a second job overnights working for a Brooklyn cab company "to make ends meet."

Hussain picked up three men, including Ali, who were all U.S. citizens of Pakistani origin. The three, who had been friends since school days, "initially said they wanted to go to Enfield," Lampson said.

For unknown reasons, Hussain got off in Windsor Locks and pulled over, then was shot in his van and his body discarded. The assailants then drove the van back to Brooklyn, where it was found a few days later in Marine Park, Lampson said.

At the time of the killing, detectives were able to develop leads on three suspects, but after a period of time, the case went cold. In Feb. 2024, investigators decided to take another look at the case.

"They took it upon themselves to dig back into this with a fresh pair of eyes and new technology," Lt. Paul Cherniack said, specifically referencing the advances made in DNA testing. "They developed some suspects, and one was arrested and arraigned today."

Lampson said Ali had fled to Pakistan for about a year before returning to the United States. One of the three suspects is dead, having been killed in Brooklyn in 2020, and police :are actively pursuing the third suspect," whose identity is known to police.

Hussain's widow and two sons, who were just 4 and 1 at the time of the killing, appeared in court at Ali's arraignment.

"Our satisfaction will come from bringing the family some closure," Lampson said.