The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office this week charged Ilyiss Mohamud Abdi, 18 (last known residence in Burien) and Salman S. Haji, 20 (last known residence in Des Moines) with multiple felonies following a series of violent crimes culminating in a fatal shooting at a Tukwila Costco parking lot on Jan. 26, 2024.
As we previously reported, Abdi and Haji escaped after shooting an elderly woman in the parking lot at Costco in Tukwila at 10:41 a.m. on Jan. 26.
Prosecutors allege that the defendants first stole a Porsche SUV, with Haji riding in the passenger seat, then drove together to the Tukwila Costco.
Spotting two women loading their groceries into their vehicle in the Costco parking lot, defendant Abdi turned the Porsche around and slowly approached their location. Haji then jumped from the passenger seat and ran to one of the women as she was getting into the driver’s seat of her vehicle. As Haji fought with the woman, Mingyong Huang, for her purse, her sister, Mingyuan Huang, leaned over from the passenger seat to help her. Haji responded by striking Mingyong repeatedly, then fired a round from the handgun, fatally striking Mingyuan in the chest. As the defendant continued waiting for him in the Porsche, Haji ran back and jumped in the passenger seat, and they both quickly sped from the scene.
Less than a week later, defendant Haji boarded an international flight and left the U.S. Since then, he has not returned.
Defendant Abdi was arrested May 16 and booked into jail on charges of assault in the first degree in connection to a separate shooting that killed a teenager in Kent on Feb. 21.
Arraignments for both defendants are scheduled for June 5, 2024 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.
Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty.
Charges Filed:
- Murder in the First Degree: For the death of Mingyuan Huang during an attempted robbery.
- Attempted Robbery in the First Degree: For attempting to steal a purse from Mingyong Huang, Mingyuan’s sister.
- Robbery in the First Degree: For carjacking a Porsche SUV from Muriel Van Housen in Seattle.
- Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree: Against Ilyiss Abdi, who had a prior conviction for Attempted Burglary.
Incident Summary:
DATE: January 26, 2024:
- 8:51 a.m.: Another victim’s Porsche SUV was struck by a dark-colored Honda. When she exited to exchange information, a suspect held her at gunpoint, stole her vehicle, and fled.
- 10:40 a.m.: The suspects, identified as Abdi and Haji, were involved in an attempted robbery at Costco while in the stolen Porsche. During the struggle, Haji shot and killed Mingyuan Huang in her vehicle.
- Additional Incident: The suspects were later seen attempting to use stolen credit cards at a Normandy Park grocery store.
- Vehicle Recovery: The stolen Porsche was located in SeaTac with evidence linking the suspects.
Suspects’ Actions:
Ilyiss Mohamud Abdi:
- Participated in the initial carjacking and attempted robbery at Costco.
- Drove the stolen Porsche to various locations.
- Previously convicted of Attempted Burglary and prohibited from possessing firearms.
Salman S. Haji:
- Engaged in the physical altercation and fired the fatal shot at Costco.
- Fled the country shortly after the incident and remains at large.
Law Enforcement Response:
Investigative Efforts:
- Multiple agencies, including the Tukwila and Seattle Police Departments, coordinated to gather evidence, utilize surveillance footage, and track the suspects.
- Probable Cause: Established through detailed witness accounts, surveillance video, forensic analysis, and cellphone data.
Legal Proceedings:
- Bail: The Prosecuting Attorney requested bail be set at $5,000,000 for each defendant due to the severity of the crimes and flight risk.
- Court Filings: The official charges and probable cause statements were filed on May 22, 2024.
The King County Prosecutor commended the coordinated efforts of law enforcement in apprehending Abdi and continuing to seek justice for the victims and their families.
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