'Get that gun out of my face': Father hears son's last moments while leaving his house for work

A Virginia assemblage convicted a antheral for murdering different antheral aft blocking him successful with his car arsenic the unfortunate was trying to get to work.

Jalen Garces, 30, was recovered blameworthy past week of second-degree murder and utilizing a firearm successful the committee of execution successful the June 2023 shooting of 33-year-old Ali Karim Muhammad, the Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney said.

The country unfolded soon aft 10 p.m. connected June 29, 2023, erstwhile Garces drove to Muhammad's flat connected First Bay Street successful Norfolk and parked his car. Shortly thereafter, Muhammad walked retired of his flat for enactment and saw that a car was blocking him in, according to prosecutors. Muhammad asked a bystander astir the car and who it belonged to successful hopes that it could person been moved.

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Some 20 minutes later, Muhammad was talking connected the telephone with his begetter erstwhile Garces came retired of the flat and refused to determination his car. An statement ensued, and Garces pulled retired a gun.

"Get that weapon retired of my face," Muhammad said, his begetter testified.

A changeable rang out.

Paramedics rushed to the country wherever they pronounced Muhammad dead. An autopsy aboriginal determined Muhammad suffered a interaction gunshot coiled to the torso.

Garces drove distant successful a dark-colored Ford Mustang. Detectives utilized thoroughfare cameras to spot the conveyance astatine the scene. Virginia Beach constabulary arrested him 2 days aft the shooting for allegedly driving nether the influence. Data from the conveyance revealed it was astatine the country and surveillance images from stores Garces frequented soon earlier the shooting showed helium was the lone idiosyncratic successful the car.

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Detectives besides spoke with the pistillate Garces was expected to spot astatine Muhammad's flat complex. She testified Garces ne'er showed up and helium sounded "frantic" erstwhile she called him, prosecutors said.

Jurors convicted Garces aft deliberating for astir six hours pursuing the three-day trial.

"My deepest condolences spell retired to Mr. and Mrs. Muhammad and to Ali's full household for their tragic loss," said Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi. "Mr. Garces had nary crushed to termination Ali and to instrumentality him from his family. I was astatine the country of this crime, arsenic I americium for each homicide successful Norfolk, and I person nary uncertainty that the accusation from the Flock camera strategy made the quality betwixt an apprehension and condemnation and an unsolved murder."

Flock cameras, which seizure extended information and details astir cars and drivers, person been controversial successful the state.

Bilal Muhammad, Ali's father, spoke with reporters aft the verdict.

"It's a beauteous day," helium said. "Our lad Ali is smiling. My woman and I are truthful happy."

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 7.

"We commune to God helium gets each dime of his time," Bilal Muhammad said.