Suspect
arrested in store owner's murder, family and Sudanese community in
mourning
09:23 PM EST on
Monday, December 8, 2008
WHAS11 coverage
Previous Story:
Lytle St. murder victim described as smiling father and devoted husband
Police: Man shot and killed during robbery in Portland neighborhood
Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) - Police have now named a suspect in the
shooting death of a store owner.
23-year-old Alexander Ruff has been arrested in connection with the
murder of Mohamed Abdelrahman, and the victim’s family is speaking out
about his death.
It was a senseless murder that shocked the Sudanese community
throughout the country. A shop-owner was shot to death by robbers for
no apparent reason.
Monday night, his family and friends gathered in a conference room to
react to news that at least one suspect is in custody.
In seven short years in the United States, Mohamed Abdelrahman
embodied the American dream and the golden rule.
“If you ask him, you need money, he can give you. If you’re hungry
he’ll help you,” says the victim’s brother.
But that dream was shattered in a second with a stolen gun on
November 24 th.
Police say robbers entered Abdelrahman‘s business, fired a shot into
the wall, shot him, then robbed two customers.
Police say it was the latest in a series of criminal acts allegedly
committed by 23-year-old Alexander Ruff.
WHAS11 News doesn’t know if Ruff was in trouble as a juvenile, but
since he’s been an adult, he’s been charged with 42 crimes. His
criminal history starts with trafficking cocaine when he was just 18.
Earlier this year, two women sought protection orders against him,
including one woman who said he threatened to shoot her.
A stolen gun and other evidence found in Ruff’s car during a routine
traffic stop Friday eventually led to murder and robbery charges.
Police say that ballistics did match that weapon to the homicide
scene itself.
But matching and making sense are two different things. Especially to
those who can’t believe an American dream could become a nightmare in
the same small store.
Family members have come from several states to honor Mohamed
Abdelrahman’s life. And E-mails have arrived from all over the world.
Police are still seeking at least two more suspects in connection
with the murder.
