Police allege Ahmed Al-Alikhan, 17, met Howard Brisendine, 64, on a dating app and targeted him because he was gay.
A Michigan teenager, Ahmed Al-Alikhan, has been charged with the murder of 64-year-old Howard Brisendine, a gay Detroit man, and will be tried as an adult. Authorities have stated that Al-Alikhan, 17, allegedly met Brisendine through a dating app and then targeted him because of his sexual orientation. Al-Alikhan has been charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, and unlawful driving away of an automobile.
The crime took place on September 24, when Al-Alikhan is accused of fatally stabbing Brisendine in his home before stealing his car. Detroit police have cited the “heinous nature” of the crime as a factor in trying the teenager as an adult. The specifics of which dating app was used by Al-Alikhan or whether he provided his real identity remain unclear. However, it’s noted that most major dating platforms require users to be 18 or older.
Brisendine, who worked as a doorman at a gay nightclub called Gigi’s, was found dead on September 29 by his neighbor, Luis Mandujano. Mandujano, concerned after Brisendine missed work, went to his home and discovered the body. Upon investigation, authorities found that Brisendine had suffered multiple stab wounds.
Al-Alikhan was arrested in Dearborn on October 1 and transferred to Detroit police. The case has drawn significant attention due to the alleged motive tied to Brisendine’s sexuality and the tragic circumstances surrounding his death.
