Howard Brisendine Obituary, Death; – A teenager in Detroit is set to face adult charges for the alleged murder of a 64-year-old man he met through a gay dating application, with prosecutors asserting that the victim was specifically targeted due to his sexual orientation.
Ahmed Al-Alikhan, who is 17 years and 11 months old, was arraigned in a Detroit courtroom on Tuesday in connection with the alleged stabbing death of Howard Brisendine and the subsequent theft of his vehicle on September 24. Brisendine’s body was discovered on September 29 by his landlord and employer. Al-Alikhan was apprehended by law enforcement while driving the stolen car on October 1 and is currently in custody.
Prosecutors claim that Al-Alikhan engaged with Brisendine through an unspecified gay dating app. It is reported that Brisendine picked up the teenager in his vehicle around 4 p.m. on September 24 and took him to his residence in Detroit. Once there, authorities allege that Al-Alikhan fatally stabbed Brisendine before fleeing in the victim’s car.
Brisendine’s body was found five days later by his neighbor and employer, Luis Mandujano, who stated he went to check on Brisendine after he failed to appear for his job at a bar. Mandujano recounted, “I opened the front door and there he is laying down.”
In addition to charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, and unlawful driving away of an automobile, prosecutors are treating the case as a potential hate crime. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has indicated that Al-Alikhan intentionally targeted Brisendine “because he was a member of the LGBTQ community.”
Detroit Police Commander Rebecca McKay informed WDIV-TV that investigators have found evidence suggesting Al-Alikhan identified himself online as anti-LGBTQ+. “We did find a couple of social media sites where he was referring to himself as a person who is anti-LGBTQ,” McKay stated, adding, “It’s chilling.”
The Fair Michigan Justice Project is collaborating with the Detroit and Dearborn police departments on this case, providing assistance to law enforcement and prosecutors in serious crimes involving the LGBTQ+ community.
