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Police: Gay men may have met random killer through social app

Quick Facts: 

  • Killing of two gay men was premeditated, police said.
  • No signs of robbery or drugs as motive.
  • Suspect may have met victim on social media app.
  • Suspect, Ali Brown, also wanted for New Jersey robbery.

The suspect in a double homicide may have targeted the gay men he killed by meeting them through a personal meetup mobile app, according to court documents released Wednesday.

Ali Muhammad Brown, 30, was charged with two counts of aggravated first-degree murder – a crime that could come with the death penalty if convicted.

Ahmed Said, 27, and Dwone Anderson-Young, 23, were killed early on the morning of June 1 near 29th Avenue South and South King Street.

“It is evident that the murders were premeditated and unprovoked and part of a common scheme or plan,” Senior Deputy Prosecutor Wyman Yip wrote in charging documents. “The evidence from the crime scene, Said’s vehicle, and the autopsies suggest that the victims were essentially executed.”

Both victims were shot in the head and there was no evidence or a struggle that preceded the killings. Yip said there was no evidence that the killings were motivated by a robbery, drugs or another crime. The shooting deaths happened about 2:20 a.m. -- less than 17 minutes after two witnesses saw Brown leave with the victim in Said’s car.

Neither Said nor Anderson-Young had a criminal history and were not armed. Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole said Wednesday morning that Brown is believed to be in New Jersey, where he has ties and is wanted for a weekend armed robbery and attempted carjacking.

Group met on Capitol Hill

The victims had been with friends at R Place, a gay nightclub at Boylston Avenue and East Pine Street on Capitol Hill. Said told the group he was meeting a “friend” outside the club when they left. One of Said’s friends had the feeling that Said hadn’t met the “friend” before.

While Said was at R Place, he was constantly on his phone and appeared to be texting on an app like Grindr of Jack’d – mobile apps used by gay men to meet others.

The group left the bar at closing time and crossed Boylston Avenue to meet with Said’s friend, but the man looked unfriendly and out of place. One of the friends in the group later told police he was “creeped out” by the man who was later identified as Brown.

After the victims were killed, Said’s gold 2001 Mitsubishi Gallant they had been riding in was found in South Seattle. There was an exorbitant amount of blood in the passenger seat. Brown’s palm print was found on the interior rear driver’s side window. Spent 9 mm shell casings that matched the casings found at the Leschi crime scene were also found in the abandoned car.

Brown’s mother told police shortly after the shooting she had purchased a 9mm semiautomatic pistol and that it was missing.

Brown wanted in New Jersey

On Sunday, a 46-year-old man in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, was robbed at gunpoint in front of a coffee shop. Police said it was Brown who took the man’s wallet and keys before fleeing on foot. The victim wasn’t hurt.

Brown is also wanted for failing to register as a sex offender.

An Ocean County judge issued a $500,000 arrest warrant for Brown and police say Brown is familiar with the East Orange area of New Jersey.

The station also reports that Brown is wanted in a third homicide in Washington, but it’s is not clear which case.

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