On July 26, 2022, 41-year-old Aftab Hussein, originally from Pakistan, was fatally shot in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His killing was one of four ambush-style shootings that targeted Muslim men in the city over several months, leaving the local Muslim community fearful and grieving.

Investigators linked the four cases to a dark gray or silver four-door Volkswagen, believed to be a Jetta or Passat, with dark tinted windows. That vehicle and other evidence led police to identify and arrest 51-year-old Afghan refugee Muhammad Syed on August 9, 2022. Authorities connected Syed to the shootings through surveillance video, bullet casings, a gun found at his home, cell phone records, and other physical evidence. Syed was indicted on three counts of first-degree murder, including Hussein’s death, and four counts of tampering with evidence.

In March 2024 a jury found Muhammad Syed guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Aftab Hussein after three hours of deliberation; he faces life in prison for that conviction and additional trials for other slayings are pending. The motive for the attacks has not been settled.

If anyone knew Aftab or has information relevant to these cases, please share what is known.