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. The charges relate to an incident that occurred on Feb. 11.
The case concerns the violent death of Mr. Hussein, who was found unconscious and unresponsive in his apartment at 1437 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., after a fire emergency call reported smoke coming from his unit. Authorities say his wrists and ankles were bound by neckties and he had died from blunt force trauma and ligature strangulation.
According to arrest warrants issued in the case, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Service members responded to a call at approximately 3:33 a.m., entering an unlocked one-bedroom apartment where they discovered Mr. Hussein’s body lying on the floor. The apartment was otherwise unoccupied at the time.
An autopsy later determined that Mr. Hussein’s manner of death was homicide due to blunt force trauma combined with ligature strangulation.
During their investigation, Metropolitan Police Department detectives reviewed security camera footage showing Mr. Hussein interacting with Barnes and Walker at around 1:40 a.m., before being physically attacked outside his doorway by both defendants as he entered the building. Approximately an hour later, footage recorded two suspects leaving the building carrying large bags.
On February 14, detectives recovered several items belonging to Mr. Hussein at another residence located in a different neighborhood.
Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined Pirro in announcing these developments.
Barnes is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 18 while Walker’s hearing is set for June 2 at D.C. Superior Court.
Authorities remind that charges are merely allegations; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
