- Written by Brandon Drennon
- bbc news
image source, police handout
An Afghan refugee has been found guilty of murder in one of three ambush-style shootings of Muslim men in New Mexico two years ago.
Mohammad Saeed faces a possible life sentence for the murder of 41-year-old Aftab Hussain on July 26, 2022. He is still on trial for the remaining two killings.
Each of the three victims was found shot to death in Albuquerque within weeks of each other.
The murder caused widespread fear among the city's Muslim community.
The trial heard Mr Said was armed with an AK-47-type rifle when he shot Mr Hussein to death from behind a bush.
Prosecutors said the victim's body was “destroyed” with 11 entrance wounds, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
At trial, cell phone data showed Saeed was in the area at the time of the shooting.
A ballistics expert testified that shell casings and projectiles from the scene matched the weapon found under Saeed's bed.
The defense argued there was no evidence that Syed actually pulled the trigger. He said he plans to appeal after the remaining two trials.
Syed did not testify, and the defense called no witnesses.
Prosecutors acknowledged at the end of the trial that Said's motives remained unclear.
No evidence was presented that he had any interaction with Aftab Hussain before the shooting.
“As far as we know, this could be the case of a serial killer whose motives are known only to them and we don't really understand,” Assistant District Attorney David Waymire said outside court Monday. It’s not something that can be done.”
Saeed is also accused of killing Muhammad Afzaar Hussain, 27, in a drive-by shooting on August 1, 2022.
He will also stand trial for the murder of Naeem Hussain, 25, who was shot dead in his car on August 5.
Mr. Hussein had recently become a U.S. citizen and had just attended the funerals of two other shooting victims before he became a target.
Saeed was arrested on August 9, two days after police distributed photos of his car.
