Driver charged with murder in U.S. Muslim teen’s death

A driver accused of deliberately running down a Muslim teenager in Kansas City has been charged with murder in a case that’s being investigated by federal authorities to determine whether it was a hate crime.

Thirty-four-year-old Ahmed H. Aden was charged Friday in the crash outside a Somali community center that killed 15-year-old Abdisamad Sheikh-Hussein. Prosecutors are requesting a $250,000 bond. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.

A probable cause statement says Aden was driving the sport utility vehicle night that hit the teen as he got into a car Thursday evening.

Aden is accused of backing up and running over the teen, whose legs were nearly severed. The teen died in a hospital of his wounds.

The suspect was arrested when he tried to run away following the crash. Police said he had a machete and other weapons in the vehicle.

Federal agents are assisting in the investigation and “also have opened this matter as a federal civil rights investigation as a potential hate crimes violation,” according to FBI spokeswoman Bridget Patton.

Patton said she couldn’t release any information on why the case could be considered a hate crime, but Muslim leaders called for such an investigation early Friday.

The Kansas City Muslim community is “deeply shocked” by the death, Zulfiqar Malik, a board member with the Heartland Muslim Council, said in a news release.

Khadra Dirir, the victim’s aunt, told TV station WDAF that the family was “destroyed” by what happened.

“He’s a sweet, loving kid,” Khadra Dirir said. “He doesn’t deserve this.”

Calls by The Associated Press to a number listed for Dirir rang busy.