Mohammad Abuhashish was a hardworking and beloved entrepreneur who had built a life for his family on the Northwest Side of Chicago. The 34-year-old, known to some as "Moe," had emigrated from Jordan around the age of 16, dreaming of success in the United States. Through years of effort, he became the owner of two local businesses: Moe’s Barber Shop on North Elston Avenue and the AbuHashish Smoke Shop on West Irving Park Road.
Friends and family remembered the Norridge resident as a generous, kind, and optimistic man. He was a devoted husband and a father to four children, with his wife pregnant with their fifth child at the time of his death. A longtime client and friend, Nelson Ortega, recalled how Abuhashish touched many lives, noting how surreal it was that someone he had just spoken with could be gone a week later.
The evening of Thursday, October 1, 2026, was meant to be the end of another workday for Abuhashish. He was closing his business, the AbuHashish Smoke Shop at 5612 W. Irving Park Road in the Portage Park neighborhood. Around 9:35 p.m., a witness noticed a suspicious person wearing a mask inside the shop and flagged down Chicago police officers who were conducting a traffic stop nearby. The witness then heard the sound of gunfire and saw a male gunman fleeing the scene on foot. The officers rushed inside the smoke shop and found Mohammad Abuhashish unresponsive in the office. He had sustained a single, devastating gunshot wound to his throat.
Paramedics transported Abuhashish to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at 10:26 p.m. The Cook County medical examiner's office later performed an autopsy and officially ruled his death a homicide. Back at the scene, investigators determined that nothing had been taken from the store, which complicated questions about the motive behind the attack. While police have not confirmed a motive, family members and some media reports suggested the shooting may have stemmed from a dispute after Abuhashish refused to sell cigarettes to a 17-year-old who could not provide identification.
The investigation into the murder was launched by Chicago Police Area Five detectives. In the immediate aftermath, local officials, including State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe and Alderman Nick Sposato, confirmed they were in contact with police leadership. Alderman Sposato noted that there had never been any trouble or complaints reported at the smoke shop. Detectives began the process of canvassing for witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage from the area, hoping the store’s own camera system might provide clues to the gunman’s identity. Police have not released a detailed description of the suspect.
The community’s love for Abuhashish was immediately apparent. In the days following the shooting, a small memorial of lit candles, bouquets, and a homemade sign reading “We love you, rest in peace Moe” appeared outside the smoke shop. Friends and loyal customers shared their memories of the cheerful barber who could talk about anything from cars to family. Akram Sukar Ijbara, a family friend who had known Abuhashish since he was a teen, said, “I’m still in shock. I still can’t believe this is happening.” Ortega, his client of a decade, had recently told Abuhashish he was expecting a baby and wanted him to give the child his first haircut.
The profound loss was felt deeply within his community. Prayer services were held at a local mosque, and his funeral was attended by more than a thousand mourners, a testament to the many lives he had touched. Both of his businesses were closed as friends and family grieved the sudden, violent loss of a man described as a pillar of his community.
As of October 2026, no arrests have been made in the killing of Mohammad Abuhashish, and the case remains an active homicide investigation. Detectives continue to seek information and video evidence from the public. Chicago police have asked anyone with information to contact the Area 5 Detective Division at 312-746-6554 or 312-746-7394.
