'Just going out to get food': Man returning to apartment building beaten to death by strangers he let in behind him, cops say

A antheral returning to his Washington, D.C., flat gathering with late-night nutrient was ambushed, tied up, and beaten to decease earlier the suspects lit the location ablaze, authorities say.

Rico Barnes, 36, has been charged with first-degree murder successful the decease of 40-year-old Syed Hammad Hussain, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. Another fishy is successful constabulary custody connected unrelated charges but charges relating to Hussain's sidesplitting person not been brought, authorities said during a property conference streamed by section ABC affiliate WJLA connected Tuesday.

On Feb. 11 astatine astir 1:30 a.m., Hussain was returning to his flat gathering connected the 1400 artifact of Rhode Island Avenue Northwest successful Washington, D.C., which is little than a mile distant from the White House. He was "literally conscionable going retired to get nutrient and coming backmost home," MPD Interim Police Chief Jeff Carroll said.

Hussain had walked wrong the gathering erstwhile helium heard a sound connected the door, according to investigators. "He fto them inside. I'm definite helium astir apt thought it was idiosyncratic other from the building," Carroll stated. "Unfortunately, we spot things similar that each the time, wherever determination whitethorn beryllium a chap neighbour successful an flat gathering oregon things similar that, and folks volition fto him in. In this case, they conscionable took vantage of him completely."

Investigators said they person nary denotation the suspects knew the victim. "It appears they conscionable picked him arsenic helium was walking backmost home," according to the chief.

Once inside, Barnes and the different antheral reportedly bushed Hussain and forced him into his first-floor apartment, "described arsenic a loft-style one-bedroom condo," according to an apprehension affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime. The suspects are believed to person past tied him up and bushed him earlier stealing galore items, mounting occurrence to the home, and leaving.

Surveillance footage captured the suspects "carrying aggregate bags and clothing," the tribunal papers goes on. Barnes allegedly held a bicycle and 2 bags, and wore "a achromatic leather benignant overgarment and a wintertime overgarment underneath," nary of which helium had erstwhile helium entered the building. The different fishy is besides seen carrying respective bags.

Authorities got a 911 telephone astatine astir 3:30 a.m. that greeting astir "smoke detection." When archetypal responders arrived, they recovered flat 106 "closed but unlocked," and they entered the flat "to find it engulfed successful smoke."

Once the occurrence was enactment out, authorities "observed a antheral unfortunate lying prone connected the level successful an unconscious and unresponsive state," the affidavit states. The antheral — aboriginal identified arsenic Hussain — "did not show immoderate signs accordant with life," and helium was pronounced dead.

There was humor astir his head, connected the floor, and connected a adjacent wall, authorities said. He was besides "bound astatine the wrists and ankles by neckties," and 2 25-pound metallic dumbbells were connected the level nearby.

An autopsy determined Hussain's origin of decease to beryllium homicide caused by blunt unit trauma and ligature strangulation. Investigators learned that "[t]hermal injuries were present" connected the body, but they were determined to person been suffered aft helium was already dead.

Police began investigating that morning, and they reportedly spoke with a witnesser who was with the 2 suspects conscionable earlier the attack. With this witnesser and others' help, investigators learned that the suspects allegedly stole an electrical bicycle, jewelry, watches, an El Salvadoran passport, and overseas currency totaling up to $50,000.

The affidavit — dated March 18 — stated that investigators recovered probable origin to complaint Barnes with Hussain's murder. The fishy was arrested, jailed, and appeared successful tribunal connected Tuesday.

He is acceptable to instrumentality to tribunal connected May 18.