A man returning to his Washington, D.C., apartment with late-night food was ambushed, tied up, and beaten to death before suspects set his home on fire, authorities say.
Rico Barnes, 36, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 40-year-old Syed Hammad Hussain, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. Another suspect is in custody on unrelated charges, but authorities have not filed charges related to Hussain’s killing, officials said during a press conference on Tuesday.
The attack occurred on Feb. 11 around 1:30 a.m. Hussain was returning to his apartment on the 1400 block of Rhode Island Avenue Northwest, less than a mile from the White House. MPD Interim Police Chief Jeff Carroll said Hussain had “literally just gone out to get food and was coming back home.”
Investigators said Hussain heard a knock at the building door and let the visitors in, likely thinking they were neighbors. “Unfortunately, we see things like that all the time,” Carroll said. “In this case, they just took advantage of him completely.”
Authorities said there’s no indication Hussain knew the suspects. “It appears they just picked him as he was walking back home,” Carroll added.
Once inside, Barnes and the other man allegedly beat Hussain and forced him into his first-floor apartment, described as a loft-style one-bedroom, according to an arrest affidavit. They tied him up, continued to assault him, stole multiple items, set fire to the apartment, and left. Surveillance footage showed the suspects carrying bags and clothing. Barnes was seen holding a bicycle and two bags and wearing a black leather jacket with a winter coat underneath, none of which he had when entering the building. The other suspect also carried multiple bags.
Authorities received a 911 call around 3:30 a.m. about smoke in the building. First responders found apartment 106 closed but unlocked and entered to find it engulfed in smoke.
After the fire was extinguished, authorities found Hussain unconscious and unresponsive on the floor. He showed no signs of life and was pronounced dead at the scene. Blood was observed around his head, on the floor, and on a nearby wall. Hussain was bound at the wrists and ankles with neckties, and two 25-pound metal dumbbells were nearby.
An autopsy determined Hussain’s death was a homicide caused by blunt force trauma and ligature strangulation. Thermal injuries were also present but occurred after death. Investigators gathered evidence and spoke with a witness who had been with the suspects before the attack. Authorities say the suspects stole an electric bicycle, jewelry, watches, an El Salvadoran passport, and foreign currency totaling up to $50,000.
The March 18 affidavit stated there was probable cause to charge Barnes with murder. He was arrested, jailed, and appeared in court on Tuesday. Barnes is scheduled to return to court on May 18.
