Mohammed Muktar Abduselam | Homicide Watch DC

Abduselam was "the quiet member of the family"

Chris Amico — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:28:45 -0400

In 48 hours, from Saturday night to Monday night, five people were killed across the District: Davon Paul Gray, Jawan Parker, Eric Kearney, Antonio Headspeth and Mohammed Muktar Abduselam.

Looking back at those deaths, the Washington Post includes this short profile of Abdusalem, killed Monday night in what police say was a robbery attempt at the gas station where he worked:

Abduselam came to the United States from Ethiopia in 2007, according to his cousin Amir Ousman, who lives in Virginia. Abduselam lived with an older brother in Northeast and had relatives throughout the region.

He was known as the quiet member of the family, was not married and had no children, Ousman said. He worked daily at the store; when he wasn’t at work, he was usually home.

A practicing Muslim, Abduselam attended Friday prayers at the First Hijrah Foundation on Georgia Avenue NW in Petworth. On Wednesday, family members were busy arranging a Thursday funeral so he could be buried as soon as possible, per Muslim custom.

Along busy Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue on Tuesday afternoon, pedestrians slowed as they passed yellow tape that cordoned off the gas pumps and store. A large, colorful wall mural depicting President Obama and King under the words "Yes We Can And We Did" was visible across the street.

MPD Statement on the Death of Mohammed Muktar Abduselam

Chris Amico — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:36:42 -0400

MPD released the following statement tonight on the shooting death of Mohammed Muktar Abduselam, who police believe was killed during a robbery at the gas station where he worked.

The statement also corrects the victim's name. He had previously been identified as Mohamed Abdul-Selam Muktar.

Homicide: 2900 Block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating the fatal shooting which occurred in the 2900 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE.

On Monday, October 17, 2011 at approximately 8:30 pm, units from the Seventh District responded to the 2900 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE to investigate a Robbery/Shooting. Upon their arrival, they located a male suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 37 year-old Mohammed Muktar Abduselam of Northeast, Washington, DC.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099 or
1-888-919-CRIME (1-888-919-2746).

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to DC CRIME SOLVERS at 1-800-673-2777 and to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. If the information provided by the caller to the Crime Solvers Unit leads to an arrest and indictment, that caller will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Washington Times: Congress Heights Shooting Victim is Mohamed Abdul-Selam Muktar

Laura Amico — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:05:45 -0400

Citing police sources, The Washington Times identified a man shot and killed Monday night in Congress Heights as 37-year-old Mohamed Abdul-Selam Muktar.

Muktar was an employee at the convenience store where he was shot, the Times reported. Earlier reports indicated that an employee was shot in the back while running out the shop during a robbery.

Man Killed in Congress Heights Robbery Attempt Monday Night

Laura Amico — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:11:54 -0400

A man was killed at a Southeast DC gas station last night, an apparent victim of a robbery.

Reports WUSA:

Police say officers were called to King Food and Grocery at 2917 Martin Luther King Junior Ave around 8:45 Monday night to investigate a report of a robbery. Once officers arrived on scene they found a man suffering from a gun shot wound.

Police say the suspect reportedly entered the store armed with a handgun and took cash from a register. The complainant attempted to run out of the front of the store and was shot in the back.

Community blog "Congress Heights on the Rise" reported:

Triple sigh. As I and fellow Ward 8 residents were leaving the UPO Petey Greene Center after tonight's Congress Heights Community Association meeting we come out to a shooting next door at the King Gas Station on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE.

Tonight's topic was, "Is Congress Heights a ghetto?"

While I know that there will be "jokes" and snarky comments about the irony of tonight's events there is nothing the least bit funny or amusing or even expected about what happened.

Crime happens everwhere whether it be Congress Heights or Georgetown and it is deplorable, discpicable, and should never be tolerated, least of all expected.

This video of the crime scene was also posted to the website.