U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced on April 3 that Rico Barnes, 36, and Alphonso Walker, 39, both from the District of Columbia, have been charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the death of Syed Hussein on Feb. 11.
The case is significant as it involves a violent crime resulting in the loss of life within a residential community. Authorities said that the charges were filed in D.C. Superior Court on April 2. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for May 18 for Barnes and June 2 for Walker.
According to arrest warrants, emergency responders arrived at an apartment building on Rhode Island Avenue after a report of smoke coming from apartment 106 at about 3:33 a.m. The apartment was unlocked when firefighters entered and found Mr. Hussein unconscious and unresponsive with his wrists and ankles bound by neckties. He had died from his injuries; no one else was present inside the apartment.
An autopsy determined that Mr. Hussein's death was caused by blunt force trauma and ligature strangulation, ruling it a homicide. Investigators reviewed security camera footage showing Mr. Hussein interacting with both defendants outside his building at about 1:40 a.m., followed by an assault outside the doorway before all three entered together. About an hour later, cameras recorded two suspects leaving with large bags.
Detectives recovered several items belonging to Mr. Hussein at another residence three days later during their investigation.
Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined Pirro in making the announcement regarding these charges.
Authorities remind that charges are allegations only and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
