Police in New Mexico have detained a man they suspect is connected to the murders of four Muslim men in Albuquerque, authorities announced Tuesday.
Police located the car they believe is connected to the most recent murder that occurred on Friday, Police Chief Harold Medina said in a tweet Tuesday, noting the driver, identified as 51-year-old Muhammad Syed, is the “primary suspect.”
MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM M EN IN ALBUQUERQUE POSSIBLY LINKED: POLICE
“This has been a tough week in our community,” Medina said in a follow-up statement. “But we all pitched in to solve these crimes and protect a community that felt like it was under attack. We came together, like we always do in Albuquerque.”
Detectives arrived at Syed’s New Mexico residence on Monday to conduct a search when the suspect drove away in a Volkswagen Jetta, which officials believe was used in at least one of the murders, Albuquerque police said. Police detectives and FBI agents then arrested Syed and discovered additional evidence tying him to the killings and indicating he knew the four victims “to an extent and an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings,” police added.
Breaking news on the Muslim killings in Albuquerque @cbsnews pic.twitter.com/vmzYZlKiBR
— Omar Villafranca (@OmarVillafranca) August 9, 2022
Naeem Hussain was murdered on Friday, marking the fourth killing of a Muslim man in the city over the past nine months, according to authorities. Police suspect this most recent killing is connected to the death of Muhammed Afzaal Hussain from Pakistan on Aug. 1, the July 26 killing of Hussein from Pakistan, and the killing of Mohammad Ahmadi from Afghanistan in November.
Syed has been charged in the murders of Hussein and Hussain, which detectives linked through bullet casings left at the scenes, according to officials, who noted the gun used in those killings was recovered at Syed’s residence during the police search on Monday.
Authorities said they are still working on possible charges for the other two murders.
We tracked down the vehicle believed to be involved in a recent murder of a Muslim man in Albuquerque. The driver was detained and he is our primary suspect for the murders. We will update the media later this afternoon.
— APD Chief of Police (@ABQPoliceChief) August 9, 2022
The four deaths have gained national attention, with President Joe Biden reacting to the news over the weekend lamenting the “horrific killings.”
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“While we await a full investigation, my prayers are with the victims’ families, and my Administration stands strongly with the Muslim community,” Biden said in a tweet. “These hateful attacks have no place in America.”
