‘Disgruntled former customer’ accused of fatally shooting dentist, injuring 2 others

EL CAJON, Calif. (TCD) — A 28-year-old dentist was killed and two others were wounded when a former patient allegedly opened fire inside the office, then fled in a U-Haul van.

According to the El Cajon Police Department, on Feb. 29, at 4:14 p.m., officers responded to a shooting call at a dental office on the 400 block of North Magnolia Avenue. Officers arrived within two minutes and located two adult males and one adult female suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the victims, Dr. Benjamin Harouni, died from his injuries at the scene. The other two victims were transported to a nearby hospital in serious, but stable condition.

The suspect, who police identified as 29-year-old Mohammed Abdulkareem, fled in a white U-Haul pickup truck following the shooting. Investigators utilized license plate reader information and learned Abdulkareem rented the truck in San Diego. Police released a photo of the vehicle and alerted the public to be on the lookout.

That night, just after 9 p.m., a “vigilant citizen” contacted the San Diego Police Department and said they believed they found the U-Haul near 6th Avenue and Quince Street. San Diego Police officers responded to the area and found the truck was unoccupied, but then they located Abdulkareem nearby and took him into custody. He reportedly had a handgun and loaded magazines on him at the time of arrest.

El Cajon Police said Abdulkareem legally purchased the gun about two weeks before the shooting. According to the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, Abdulkareem allegedly used a semiautomatic handgun in the deadly shooting, firing 23 rounds in about one minute.

Police said they were still investigating the motive, but Abdulkareen was believed to be a “disgruntled former customer.”

The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday, March 5, that Abdulkareen is being charged with one count of murder and two counts of premeditated attempted murder with gun and great bodily injury allegations.

According to the district attorney’s office, Abdulkareem was “well-known” at the office because he allegedly showed up multiple times over the last six months “to complain about his dental work.”

In a March 1 statement, El Cajon Police said there was “no indication the attack was racially or politically motivated.” Harouni was Jewish.

The Anti-Defamation League’s California bureau released a statement following the shooting that also said there was “no indication of the murder being motivated by antisemitism.”

On March 2, the Anti-Defamation League San Diego office said, “Given the heightened threat level facing the Jewish community, it is critical that all possible motives — including antisemitism — that led to the tragic murder of Benjamin Harouni be investigated. ADL remains in close contact with the El Cajon Police Department and the Jewish community to ensure that the investigation includes multiple agencies, and that all motives remain under consideration.”

Abdulkareem pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail.

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