3 people charged in car theft that killed Iraqi immigrant

Ahmed Zainuldeen, an Iraqi immigrant in the United States since 2022, was shot in an apartment complex at East Harvard Avenue and Quebec Street in September 2023. (Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office)

DENVER (KDVR) – Charges have been filed against three young people suspected in a fatal carjacking in Arapahoe County who were minors at the time of the crime.

Two juvenile suspects will be tried as adults in the Sept. 19, 2023, murder case of the shooting death of 23-year-old Ahmed Zainuldeen at an apartment complex in Arapahoe County. A third suspect is being tried as a juvenile.

Raydon Collins, 18, and Dhaevontae Rogers-Broadus, 17, each received a $1 million cash bond in the case. Identifying information about juvenile suspects is not publicly released, nor is information about their cases.

Zainuldeen, an Iraqi immigrant in the United States since 2022, was in an apartment complex at East Harvard Avenue and Quebec Street around 10 p.m. that Tuesday when four people approached his silver 2012 Hyundai Sonata, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said at the time with. According to Zainuldeen’s brother, he saw his car being stolen and ran to stop them.

Zainuldeen was shot dead, after which the suspects allegedly drove away in his car.

Three accused of killing an Iraqi immigrant

Collins and Rogers-Broadus are each charged with:

• First degree murder after consideration
• First degree murder with extreme indifference
• Second degree murder
• Aggravated robbery involving a blow, weapon or injury
• Aggravated robbery, threatening Confederates with a weapon
• Violent crimes resulting in death or serious bodily harm
• Violent crime with a weapon

The teenager is accused of the following:

• First degree murder after consideration
• First degree murder with extreme indifference
• Second degree murder
• Aggravated robbery involving a blow, injury or weapon
• Violent juvenile delinquent – ​​causing death or serious bodily harm
• Violent juvenile delinquent – ​​weapon used
• Serious Juvenile Delinquent – ​​Committed a Class 1 or 2 felony

A caseworker for Zainuldeen spoke to FOX31 shortly after his death. The clerk explained that he was an Iraqi immigrant who had only been in the United States since November 2022.

Anna Hanel, a caseworker at the African Community Center, told FOX31 she has known the Zainuldeen family for some time. The family had lived in Egypt for years, jumping through bureaucratic hoops to get to America after leaving Iraq because of the violence.

“These are refugees who came here to seek freedom from violence and persecution,” Hanel said at the time.

Rogers-Broadus is scheduled to appear in court for a status conference on June 3. Collins is scheduled to appear for arraignment on June 4.