ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: An Afghan refugee, who was convicted earlier this year of first-degree murder in one of the three fatal shootings that shook Albuquerque’s Muslim community in the United States, has reached a plea deal that could resolve criminal allegations stemming from the other two killings.
Muhammad Syed’s attorneys also confirmed Thursday that the deal will be considered by a state district judge during a hearing on Tuesday. Details of the deal have not been made public.
Syed, 53, already faces life imprisonment for killing Aftab Hussein in July 2022. He was set to stand trial in the second case beginning Tuesday, but those proceedings were suspended amid the discussions regarding changing his plea.
The three ambush-style killings occurred over the course of several days, leaving officials scrambling to determine if religion or race might have been behind the crimes. Prosecutors labeled Syed as having a violent history. The first trial had uncovered little regarding motive, leaving victims’ families hoping that the subsequent trials might shed more light on why the men were targeted.
The other victims included Afzaal Hussain, who was gunned down Aug. 1, 2022, while taking his evening walk, and Naeem Hussain, who was shot four days later outside a refugee resettlement agency on the city’s south side. With the conviction in the case of Aftab Hussein, Syed must serve around 30 years in jail before he is eligible for bail. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.
