Muhammad Syed charged for murder of Naeem Hussain

Monday, Aug. 22, 2022

ALBUQUERQUE -- Muhammad Syed was charged for the murder of Naeem Hussain, one of four Muslim men shot to death in recent months in Albuquerque.

Syed, 51, is now charged for three of the four murders. He is considered the prime suspect in the fourth murder that occurred on Nov. 7, 2021.

“Our homicide detectives continue to work with prosecutors to ensure all victims receive justice in this tragic case,” APD Chief Harold Medina said.

A Grand Jury indicted Syed on three counts of First Degree Murder and four counts of Tampering with Evidence for the following shootings:

• the July 26, 2022 murder of Aftab Hussein
• the Aug. 1, 2022 murder of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain
• the Aug. 5, 2022 murder of Naeem Hussain

Police allege that Syed shot Hussain as he sat in the driver’s seat of his white 4-Runner in a parking lot at Truman St. and Grand Ave., N.E.

Friends told police that Hussain attended burial services for the two other Muslim victims, Aftab Hussein and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, earlier in the afternoon of Aug. 5. He later drove on his own to the Lutheran Family Services Center, located at 230 Truman St., N.E.

Detectives obtained surveillance video that showed a gray Volkswagan sedan fleeing the scene after Hussain was shot. Detectives and officers from several police agencies, including APD and the FBI, searched for the vehicle. APD released a photo of the Volkswagon Jetta to the public on Sunday, Aug. 8. Tips from the public and additional surveillance video helped detectives identify the vehicle, as well Muhammad Syed, as the owner of the car.

Detectives arrested Syed on Aug. 9, 2022, and charged him with the first two murders. Detectives connected those homicides using bullet casings found at the scenes. The gun used in those shootings was discovered during a search of his home.

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