On January 2, 2023, 22-year-old Hassan Hassan was fatally shot outside the Safina World Restaurant, located at 4431 Cleveland Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. Witnesses reported that Hassan was shot in the back as he exited the restaurant.
The Columbus Division of Police identified 20-year-old Abdulbasid Mohamed Ahmed as the suspect in the shooting.
According to court documents, an argument had erupted inside the restaurant between two groups, including Hassan and Ahmed. After the altercation, Ahmed allegedly waited outside for Hassan and, upon his exit, fired at least two shots, striking him once in the back.
Following the incident, Ahmed fled the scene in a vehicle registered to him. He was considered armed and dangerous, prompting authorities to release his images to the public. On January 7, 2023, Ahmed was apprehended and subsequently charged with murder.
In July 2023, Ahmed pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hassan's death. He was sentenced to a prison term ranging from 12 to 16.5 years. The prosecution and defense jointly recommended this sentence, noting that Ahmed and Hassan had previously been friends and roommates. Ahmed claimed he feared Hassan would shoot him, which led to the fatal encounter.
