Aya Hachem: Two men charged with murder after teenager killed in shooting in Blackburn
Written by News on 23/05/2020
Two men have been charged with the murder of 19-year-old Aya Hachem who was killed in a shooting in Blackburn.
Feroz Suleman, 39, and Abubakir Satia, 31, both from Blackburn, are accused of murder and attempted murder, Lancashire Constabulary said.
The University of Salford law student was walking to a supermarket on 17 May when she was shot.
Emergency services were called to the scene in King Street shortly after 3pm.
Ms Hachem was taken to hospital but later died from her injuries.
A post-mortem examination revealed that she died as a result of a gunshot wound to her chest.
Detectives said two shots were fired in the incident. The first hit a building and the second struck the teenager.
They confirmed the murder charge related to her death and the attempted murder charge was to the man police believe was the intended target.
Suleman and Satia are due to appear at Preston Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
Two men, aged 33 and 36 from Blackburn, who were arrested on 18 May on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
On Friday, police also arrested a 22-year-old man from Blackburn on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
He remains in custody along with seven other men and two women, all from the Blackburn area, held in connection with Ms Hachem’s death.
Detective superintendent Andy Cribbin, of the force’s major investigation team, said: “While we have now charged people in connection with Aya’s murder our enquiries are very much ongoing.
“I would like to thank all those who have come forward to assist with our investigation so far and to continue to encourage people to come and speak to us if they have information.”
Police are continuing to appeal for information and video footage from the incident.
Anyone with any information or footage should call 101, quoting log number 0412 of 18 May, or anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
(c) Sky News 2020: Aya Hachem: Two men charged with murder after teenager killed in shooting in Blackburn
