Ali Mohammed, the 21-year-old Mount Vernon, N.Y. resident accused of
fatally shooting 22-year-old David Smith Monday at the Heritage Homes Complex on Rhoda Quash Lane, turned himself into New Rochelle police on Monday. He is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
New Rochelle police spokesman Capt. J Collins Coyne said on Thursday that Smith knew Mohammed and the other suspects arrested in the case, and that police believe the fatal shooting stemmed from a "personal dispute" over money. He added that while investigators have not ruled out a connection between the homicide and Smith's alleged extensive DoorDash scheme, they also have not definitively connected the two
Emotions were running high in the courtroom, as supporters of Mohammed made their presence felt. “We love you Ali,” a person exclaimed before being quieted by a court officer.
Mohammed’s arrest was the fourth in the case. Earlier this week, Marquis Williamson, 21, of Newark, N.J., and Amiri Oneal, 21, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., were arrested on second-degree murder charges. A third suspect, 20-year-old Anthony Webster of Mount Vernon, N.Y., was arrested on charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree robbery.
Williamson and Oneal allegedly "grabbed, held and brought David Smith to the ground while (Mohammed) shot David Smith multiple times," according to a felony complaint filed by the Westchester District Attorney's Office. A felony complaint filed against Webster claims the 20-year-old did "hold a firearm to the victim's head" while the others stole Smith's phone, credit cards and keys.
Meanwhile, a fifth suspect involved in the case also was arraigned Thursday.
Tommy Guest, 21, of Rich Avenue in Mount Vernon, is charged with first-degree robbery. The felony complaint against him alleges he went through Smith’s pockets and took a cellphone, keys and a credit card. The complaint states Guest took personal property from Smith while another “individual held a firearms to the victim’s head.”
Guest’s defense attorney, Cynthia Lobo, asked for Guest to be released without bail. She said he was a college student at the State University of New York at Stony Brook on Long Island, N.Y., and he had deep roots in Mount Vernon and the larger Westchester community. The defense lawyer said he had no previous criminal record. Lobo said outside the court she would contest the charges against her client.
Rice did not agree to releasing him without bail and set a $20,000 cash bail, or a $50,000 bond, for release. Outside the courtroom, family members said they would arrange for bail by the end of the day to secure his release from custody.