Salman S. Haji, a 20-year-old Kenyan man, was extradited to the United States (U.S) over the deadly taking pictures of a girl in a Costco parking zone in Tukwila, Washington.
Haji was apprehended in Kenya by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and returned to the U.S, the place he’s at present detained at King County Jail in Seattle.
The suspect and his co-accused, Ilyiss Abdi, 20, are dealing with expenses of homicide, theft, and tried theft.
“The U.S Attorney’s Office in Seattle confirmed Salman S. Haji was taken into custody by the FBI in Kenya. He is now within the King County Jail in Seattle with a bail set at $5 million (Ksh646 million bail),” a neighborhood media outlet within the U.S confirmed.
Why Salman Haji was accused of homicide within the U.S
Authorities allege that on January 26, 2024, the pair was concerned in a carjacking incident in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighbourhood earlier than driving to a grocery retailer the place they used a stolen bank card.
Surveillance footage later captured them arriving at a Costco parking zone in a stolen Porsche SUV, the place Haji allegedly tried to steal a handbag from two aged ladies loading groceries into their automotive.
“Ming was within the passenger seat and reached over to assist her sister as she struggled for management of the purse with Haji. Haji then allegedly shot Ming within the chest, killing her,” the media outlet confirmed.
During the tried theft, Haji is accused of taking pictures 67-year-old Yuam Ming within the chest as she tried to help her sister, whose purse was being snatched.
The assault occurred in broad daylight, and close by safety footage reportedly captured the whole sequence, together with Haji fleeing the scene within the Porsche SUV, pushed by Abdi.
Police say the Porsche was carjacked earlier that day utilizing a weapon. Witnesses later reported that the suspects eliminated the automobile’s license plates shortly earlier than the homicide.
When investigators recovered the SUV from a church parking zone in Des Moines, Washington, they found the license plates contained in the automobile.
The U.S court docket filings
Forensic evaluation linked Abdi’s fingerprint to the plate and Haji’s to the passenger-side door deal with.
According to court docket filings, Haji fled the U.S 5 days after the killing, following a social media publish that recognized him as a suspect.
His co-accused, Abdi, was arrested on May 16 in connection to a separate taking pictures in Kent and stays in custody with a Ksh 775.2 million bail. Abdi has pleaded not responsible to all expenses.
Haji’s subsequent court docket look has not been scheduled, however he additionally faces a federal cost associated to the carjacking.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and each suspects stay in custody awaiting trial.
