On the evening of May 4, 2026, 50-year-old Ayed Mdanat was shot and killed inside his family apartment on the 10400 block of South Austin Avenue in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Sami reportedly retreated to his bedroom and, during a FaceTime call with the cousin, allegedly displayed a handgun and threatened to shoot his father if he entered the room. Neighbors heard pounding on the bedroom door followed by multiple gunshots; Ayed was found lying face down on a couch with multiple gunshot wounds and later died at the hospital. The Cook County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide.

After the shooting, Sami fled the apartment. His mother reportedly picked up a Draco 7.62 mm semiautomatic handgun and three spent shell casings, then ran to a neighbor and discarded the casings. Police located Sami hiding in bushes nearby and arrested him; he was charged with first-degree murder and ordered held pending trial, with a next court date listed for May 29 at the Bridgeview Courthouse. If anyone knew Ayed or was in the area that night, does anyone have information that could help clarify what happened?