EL CAJON, Calif. – A deadly shooting rampage unfolded at a dental office in El Cajon, California, leaving one person dead and two others injured, with the suspect identified as a “disgruntled former customer,” El Cajon police announced on Friday.
The shooter, Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29, was apprehended near Balboa Park after a manhunt that led police to the white U-Haul truck he rented from San Diego. Abdulkareem was found with several loaded handgun magazines and the gun used in the shooting, purchased just two weeks before the tragic incident.
While the specific motive behind the shooting at the Smile Plus dental office on N. Magnolia Ave. remains unclear, police stated that Abdulkareem had a troubled history as a patient at the office. The attack occurred around 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, resulting in the death of Dr. Benjamin Harouni, 28, and leaving a man in his 40s and a woman in her 20s critically injured.
The wounded individuals were rushed to the hospital, where they were listed in stable condition as of Thursday night. Among the victims was Yareli Carillo, 27, who worked at the front desk of the dental office and sustained gunshot wounds to her legs. Her father, Jose Antonio Carillo, expressed shock at the unexpected violence and his daughter’s injuries.
Abdulkareem fled the scene in the stolen U-Haul truck, prompting law enforcement to issue urgent alerts and utilize surveillance footage to track down the suspect. He now faces multiple felony charges, including murder and attempted murder, as authorities continue to investigate the incident with the assistance of ATF and FBI officials.
In response to the tragedy, the Jewish Federation of San Diego issued a statement expressing condolences for the loss of a member of the local Jewish community. The organization emphasized that there is no evidence suggesting the attack was motivated by hate or prejudice, urging the public to await further details as the investigation progresses.
The shooting at the El Cajon dental office shocked the community and left many grappling with the senseless violence that unfolded on that tragic afternoon. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are working diligently to unravel the circumstances surrounding this devastating event and bring justice to the victims and their families.