Crime & Safety
Renewed Search Sought For Alexandria Man's Body Left In Dumpster Then Sent To Landfill
A Muslim advocacy group is asking police to renew a search for a murder victim's body, which was left in a dumpster and sent to a landfill.
LINCOLNIA, VA — A Muslim advocacy organization and a homicide victim's family are calling on Fairfax County Police to renew the search for the victim's body, which had been put in a dumpster that was emptied and its contents sent to a landfill.
Police believe Ahmed Hasheem Ebrahim, 20, of Alexandria, was shot in his vehicle in Lincolnia on Jan 16, and his body was left in a dumpster in Bailey's Crossroads area on Jan. 17. Police have charged Joel Antonio Sarabia, 20, of Fairfax with first-degree murder and other charges. A 17-year-old associate was charged with robbery resulting in death and concealment of a dead body.
Ebrahim had been reported missing by family on Jan. 17 after he was last seen leaving for a friend's house on Jan. 15. Detectives' investigations concluded Sarabia and the 17-year-old planned to rob Ebrahim on Jan. 16. According to police, Sarabia shot Ebrahim while the victim was in his vehicle in the 6200 block of Lachine Lane in the Lincolnia area. Police say Sarabia and his associate took Ebrahim's vehicle and left his body on Jan. 17 in a dumpster in the 3700 block of North Rosser Street in the Bailey's Crossroads area.
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Ebrahim's vehicle had been towed on Jan. 18 from a City of Alexandria address. Detectives found blood in the vehicle and upgraded the case to a critical missing person.
On Jan. 20, detectives learned Sarabia was driving Ebrahim's vehicle after the victim went missing. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant and arrested Sarabia on Jan. 24.
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Police learned Ebrahim's body was taken to the dumpster and later to a landfill. The body has not yet been located.
In late April, the Council on American-Islamic Relations wrote to Police Chief Kevin Davis requesting a renewed search for the body. The letter also requested answers to questions from Ebrahim's family, which the organization claims police have not answered.
CAIR and the Ebrahim family will hold a news conference Thursday. Patch will update this story with more information.
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