Man Arrested After 4 Muslim Men Killed In Albuquerque, Police Say

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Albuquerque police have made an arrest in the killings of four Muslim men in the city, authorities said.

Muhammad Syed, 51, is being charged in connection with at least two of the deaths, according to police.

“This has been a tough week for our community but we pitched in and we all worked together to solve this crime,” Chief Harold Medina said at a press conference Tuesday that was streamed on Facebook.

The charges against Syed are being brought in relation to the July 26 killing of Aftab Hussein and the Aug. 1 death of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, according to police, who said the gun used in both crimes was found in Syed’s home. Hussein and Hussain were each attacked in the southeast area of the city, where Syed lives, police said.

Syed knew the victims and may have had an interpersonal conflict with them, according to police. He is also being considered for charges in connection with the Friday killing of Naeem Hussain, who was in his 20s and was attacked in southeast Albuquerque, and the Nov. 7 death of Mohammad Zaher Ahmadi, who was killed outside a business he ran with his brother, police said.

Authorities sought the public’s help in the case, releasing a description of the suspect vehicle Sunday. The killings made national news and received attention from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the form of tweets.

“We knew Albuquerque would step up and somebody would find and identify that vehicle for us, which is exactly what happened,” Medina said, thanking the Muslim community for coming forward with the information needed to make an arrest.

Authorities detained Syed and his Volkswagen Jetta in Santa Rosa, according to police.

“Tonight, it is our hope that as we continue to mourn the loss of loved ones, a sense of safety and the first steps to closure can be found knowing that the likely perpetrator is in custody and being charged,” Mayor Tim Keller said Tuesday in a Facebook post.

“These terrible killings have shaken our community, and we cannot know the deep grief that the families of the victims still face in the chapter ahead, but we can be here for them. Tomorrow, we will continue to make any support available that our Muslim community needs now, we will continue to open our hearts to all who are in need, and we will continue forward as one city united.”