- Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29, was arrested after a frantic search following the shooting at Smile Plus Dentistry & Orthodontics in El Cajon
- Police have not identified the man killed in the shooting at the office run by father-son medical team Jack and Benjamin Harouni
A gunman who opened fire at a Southern California dentist's office, killing one and wounding others, was a former disgruntled patient, police revealed.
Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29, was arrested Thursday after a frantic hours-long search following the shooting at Smile Plus Dentistry & Orthodontics in El Cajon, a city about 15 miles northeast of San Diego.
Police said Friday that the suspect legally purchased the weapon he used in the attack just two weeks ago. An exact motive for the shooting remains unclear.
Officials have not identified the man killed in the office shooting. The office is run by the father-son team of doctors Jack and Benjamin Harouni, who are beloved members of the area's Jewish-Persian community.
It is not clear whether the Harounis were in the office at the time of the shooting. The San Diego coroner's office told that the identity of the slain victim was being kept under wraps.
Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29, was arrested after a frantic search following the shooting at Smile Plus Dentistry & Orthodontics in El Cajon
The office's receptionist, Yareli Carrillo, 28, was shot in the legs but is in stable condition
Images of a SWAT team outside the dentist's office in El Cajon where a shooting occurred Thursday afternoon
The practice is run by the father-son medical team Jack (pictured) and Benjamin Harouni
The office receptionist, Yareli Carrillo, 28, was shot in the legs but is in stable condition and is expected to survive. An unnamed man in his 40s was also injured but is expected to survive.
Capt. Rob Ransweiler said Abdulkareem was known to people in the office, The San Diego Union-Tribute reported.
“There were a lot of family members there,” he said. “Most people involved have information about who was involved.”
Police believe Abdulkareem, an El Cajon resident, had rented a white U-Haul pickup truck with an Arizona license plate just an hour before the shooting. He reportedly fled the scene in the vehicle after opening fire.
Abdulkareem reportedly used a handgun, but it is not clear how many shots he fired.
“An alert citizen alerted San Diego Police that they believed the U-Haul truck involved in the shooting was parked near 6th Avenue and Quince Street in San Diego,” it said in a police statement on Abdulkareem's arrest.
Dr. Benjamin Harouni is pictured above. It is unclear whether the father and son were in the office at the time of the shooting
The suspect's vehicle, a white U-Haul pickup truck with Arizona license plate AM14894, was identified shortly after the shooting. Police said they then confirmed the suspect had rented the truck
“San Diego police officers responded and discovered the truck was unoccupied. “A short time later, officers located Abdulkareem in the area and took him into custody without incident.”
Abdulkareem was found to be armed with a loaded handgun and several loaded handgun magazines.
He is accused of several crimes, including one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
The FBI's San Diego team and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting in the investigation.
A San Diego man who opened fire in the dentist's office, killing one, was a disgruntled former patient and used a gun purchased just two weeks earlier, cops say