SAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA // A man charged with killing a Saudi Arabian college student stabbed him in order to steal a car the student was selling, authorities said.
The body of 23-year-old Abdullah Abdullatif Alkadi was found after authorities questioned the suspect, Agustin Rosendo Fernandez, 28, who had the Audi when he was arrested last Thursday, said police chief Charlie Beck.
Alkadi vanished on September 17 from his home near California State University, where he was studying electrical engineering. His body was found about 240 kilometres from his home.
Mr Fernandez has been charged with murder.
Alkadi came from Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and was one of seven children. He had been in the United States since 2010, his older brother, Ahmed Alkadi, told the Los Angeles Daily News on Sunday.
“He had a very promising future,” his brother said. “He wanted to have a good education in this country. ... He wanted to make his family, his parents and himself proud.”
In his Twitter profile, Alkadi described himself as an “ambitious guy who’s looking to make (a) difference in the future”.
Mr Beck said Alkadi put the Audi up for sale in mid-September through Craigslist for more than US$30,000 (Dh110,000). Mr Fernandez talked to the student over several days about buying the car and the two met at Alkadi’s house, the chief said.
Alkadi was killed on the day he vanished – but the police chief declined to say where he was killed.
Mr Fernandez killed the student “in an attempt to keep both the Audi and the purchase price”, said the police chief.
At least two people were initially arrested, but only Mr Fernandez was charged, said Mr Beck.
Los Angeles County prosecutors have not decided whether to seek the death penalty or life in prison without possibility of parole.
The police chief said it is “all too common” for people to be robbed when taking part in online sales.
He offered safety suggestions, such as taking someone along and meeting in a public place – even a bank or a police station – to conduct the sale.
Other suggestions for sellers include: never use your full name, address or phone number in online ads; block out license plate numbers in ad photos for cars and make sure photos do not show any family members or other identifiable information; do not give out phone numbers to prospective buyers.
Ahmed Alkadi planned to take his brother’s body back to Saudi Arabia for burial.
“Regardless of any nationality and religion, he’s a human being, and he didn’t deserve to die,” he said. “He was a peaceful guy. Regardless of any barriers we have with language or religion, he’s a human being. I would like the public to pray for his soul to have peace in eternity.”
* Associated Press
