California dentist gunned down in pre-planned attack by ‘disgruntled’ ex-patient who sparked 5-hour manhunt: cops
A dentist was shot and killed at his California office Thursday by a “disgruntled” former patient who planned out the slaying weeks in advance, according to police.
Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29, allegedly stormed into Smile Plus Dentistry & Orthodontics wearing all-black clothing around 4:15 p.m. and opened fire, striking two adult men and one adult woman.
The gunman then hopped in a U-Haul pick-up with Arizona plates and fled the scene, the El Cajon Police Department said.
First responders arrived within just two minutes, but one of the men died at the scene. The others were rushed to the hospital in serious, but stable condition.
Though police did not name the victims, the deceased was identified by the Yeshiva World as Dr. Benjamin Harouni, a Jewish dentist who worked at the dental practice owned by his father.
Receptionist, Yareli Carrillo, 28, and a man in his 40s were the other victims of the shooting, according to the outlet.
El Cajon Police Department could not immediately confirm their identities.
The shocking shooting spurred a manhunt for the U-Haul and Abdulkareem, who police described as “armed and dangerous” in an alert warning of an active shooter.
He was captured roughly five hours after the shooting after a citizen reported the rental truck abandoned in San Diego, just 20 miles away from the dental office.
Abdulkareem was found nearby, along with a loaded handgun and several loaded handgun magazines.
The shooting appeared to have been planned out weeks in advance, according to cops.
Records show Abdulkareem legally purchased the handgun just two weeks earlier and rented the U-Haul one hour before allegedly gunning down his ex-dentist.
“While the exact motive behind the shooting remains under investigation, it is believed that Abdulkareem was a disgruntled former customer,” the El Cajon Police Department said in a statement.
The Anti-Defamation League in San Diego said Friday that the victim of the shooting was a member of the Jewish community, but said police have found no indication it was caused by antisemitism.
Smile Plus Dentistry lists Harouni as one of three doctors who work for his father Jack, who owns the El Cajon-based office.
Harouni had celebrated his birthday just nine days before his slaying, according to a social media post.
Abdulkareem was booked into a San Diego jail on felony charges, including one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
He is being held without bail.
