New York CBS Local
July 7, 2015
A Seattle man was indicted on terrorism and murder charges Thursday in a shooting that killed a college student in West Orange, New Jersey last year.
Ali Muhammad Brown, 30, was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of terrorism, one count of murder and other charges in the June 25, 2014 shooting that killed Brendan Tevlin, 19, of Livingston, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s office.
It was the first murder case in New Jersey in which a defendant was charged with terrorism under state law, prosecutors said. Brown had allegedly said he was motivated by a “bloody crusade” to punish the U.S. government for its foreign policies.
Tevlin was shot and killed as he stopped at a traffic light at Walker Road and Northfield Avenue West Orange on his way home.
Tevlin was driving back from visiting friends at the time, prosecutors said.
Investigators said Brown then drove Tevlin’s vehicle to an apartment complex on Northfield Avenue where he stole undisclosed items from the victim.
Tevlin had just completed his freshman year at the University of Richmond in Virginia and was home from college for the summer.
“The investigation in King County and New Jersey reveals that this defendant is responsible for a series of murders, none of which appear to be provoked, and all of which show an extreme level of violence,” King County, Washington Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said in a statement.
Detectives tracked Brown through cartridge casings linked to the slayings and surveillance video that showed a distinctive Dodge Durango sport-utility vehicle. Prosecutors said police were also able to get a palm print from inside a victim’s car in the Seattle slayings that was matched to Brown.
Brown allegedly later told police his mission was vengeance and said lives are taken every day by America, so “a life for a life.”