DETROIT – A Detroit teen accused of stabbing a man to death is being charged as an adult.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said 17-year-old Ahmed Al-Alikhan targeted 64-year-old Howard Brisendine on an online dating app because he was a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
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On Sept. 24, 2024, officials said Al-Alikhan stabbed Brisendine to death at the victim’s home in the 6000 block of Minock Street in Detroit. Al-Alikhan then allegedly took the victim’s car keys and drove away from the scene.
Police discovered Brisendine’s body at the house on Minock Street on Sept. 29, 2024, just after 4 p.m.
Al-Alikhan was later arrested by the Dearborn Police Department and was turned over to Detroit police on Oct. 1, 2024. He was charged with First Degree Murder, Felony Murder and Unlawful Driving Away in an Automobile.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Al-Alikhan will be tried as an adult due to the heinous nature of the crime and he’s mere weeks away from turning 18.
“It is hard to fathom a more planned series of events in this case,” said Worthy. “Unfortunately, the set of alleged facts are far too common in the LGBTQ community. We will bring justice to Mr. Brisendine.”
“This case highlights the very real threats of deadly violence that LGTBQ individuals face every day. We encourage everyone to maintain vigilance, and follow recommended safety tips, particularly when using dating apps. Always meet a potential date in public, use your own vehicle or make use of a ride-sharing app (like Uber or Lyft), tell a friend or loved one that you are planning to meet a date and share that person’s name and contact information. Make sure to save contact details in screenshots to capture the person’s name and chat details, should you ever find yourself a victim of a crime. Keep your dating profile and picture free from identifying personal information like your home address,” said Alanna Maguire, Fair Michigan Justice Project President.
Al-Alikhan was arraigned and remanded Tuesday morning in the 36th District Court. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for Oct. 15 at 8:30 a.m., and the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for Oct. 22.
