William E. Harriel Jr., a 26-year-old male, was found dead on February 6, 2014, in Cahokia, Illinois. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a subject down in the 100 block of Amelia near Cahokia. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Harriel lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the head. The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was activated to assist in the investigation.
The investigation revealed that Harriel's roommate, Mohammed A.
Abuharba, a 21-year-old male, was identified as the primary suspect. Abuharba was charged with Murder/Intent to Kill/Injure and Solicitation of Murder. He was taken into custody and held on a $5,000,000 bond. The motive for the killing has not been disclosed by the authorities.
Harriel was a registered sex offender, but investigators stated that this fact alone did not appear to be the motive for his murder. The case garnered significant attention due to the nature of the crime and the involvement of the Major Case Squad. The legal proceedings against Abuharba are ongoing, and further details about the case may emerge as the investigation continues.
