Muhammad Syed sentenced to life in killing of 3 Muslim men in summer 2022

Family and friends had one question for 53-year-old Muhammad Syed after he gunned down three Muslim men over a two-week span in 2022, but Syed wouldn’t give an answer.

Instead, after being found guilty of one killing and pleading no contest in two others, Syed maintained his innocence in a sentence hearing Friday and requested to return home to Afghanistan with his wife and children.

Second Judicial District Judge Britt Baca handed down the sentence to Syed during a one-hour sentencing hearing at the Bernalillo County Courthouse in Albuquerque.

Life in prison means Syed will spend a minimum of 30 years behind bars before having a chance at parole.

In a deal offered by prosecutors, Syed pleaded no contest to two counts of second-degree murder in the fatal shootings of Mohammud Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Naeem Hussain, 25. Four counts of tampering with evidence were thrown out as part of the plea deal. The deal allows Syed to serve the sentences concurrently with the 30 years he received from his first-degree murder conviction.

In March, a jury found Syed guilty of first-degree murder for killing 41-year-old Aftab Hussein on July 26, 2022. Evidence showed Syed shot Hussain to death with an AK-47 while hiding behind a bush outside his home.

On Aug. 1, Mohammud Afzaal Hussain was found shot to death after officers responded to reports of a drive-by shooting. Four days later, Naeem Hussain was shot to death after attending funeral services at the Islamic Center of New Mexico for Aftab Hussein and Mohammud Afzaal Hussain.

Evidence showed Syed followed Hussain after the funeral service and shot him from his vehicle.

The killings sparked concern in the Albuquerque Islamic community, with members fearful the attacks were hate crimes targeting Muslim men. Syed was arrested on Aug. 9 outside of Santa Rosa, driving to Texas, on Aug. 9, 2022. He has been behind bars ever since.

Before receiving his sentence on Friday, family and friends of those slain spoke of the devastation wrought by Syed.

Naeem Hussain’s brother Ali Hussain spoke to the court, telling the judge: “I think it takes a monster to kill not one, not two, but three people.”

“At least they got some sense of justice, and the person who committed such a crime got what he deserved, and I hope this brings some comfort to the friends and families of the victims,” Ali Hussain said.

Syed, when given a chance to speak, proclaimed innocence and said true justice would be the ability to return to Afghanistan with his wife and children.

“Your honor, I did nothing wrong,” Syed said, as tears rolled down his face. “I’m 100% confident I am not a murderer. The reports and accusations that have been brought against me are unjust, they’re cruel and they’re not true. I’m asking the court to allow me to be reunited with my family and I can go back to my country.”

Syed told the judge he felt the evidence against him was not clear.

Prosecutors and the victims’ families said they were disappointed at Syed’s lack of accountability, but they were filled with a sense of relief at the judge’s decision.

“I’m happy Mr. Syed will no longer be able to have a voice in this matter as he’s already pleaded no contest to three terrible things that he’s done,” said Melanie Bartholomew, friend of Naeem Hussain and Aftab Hussein.

“More importantly is to talk about Naeem Hussain and how much of a really good friend he was to everyone. It is a little bit of solace to be able to say that the person who has killed him and two other people, at least in the community, is no longer able to harm any other person.”

Naeem’s oldest brother Mushahid Hussain, said it was difficult to move forward because Syed never admitted to his crimes or gave a motive, but he believes Syed murdered his brother out of hatred for the Muslim community.

“Where I live, people kill people if they have the name Ali or Hussain because they think they belong to that religion,” Mushahid said. “I think this guy did the same thing because all three of the people he killed had the last name Hussain. He never said he did it, and he wants to show himself as innocent, but God knows better.”