The Jewish dentist in San Diego, who was allegedly shot dead by a ‘disgruntled’ ex-patient on Thursday, has been named as 28-year-old Dr. Benjamin Ariel Harouni.
Harouni was a licensed dentist and worked at the dental office he ran together with his father, Jack.
Medical personnel at the surgery tried to save Harouni’s life, but he died from multiple gunshot wounds on the sidewalk in front of the Smile Plus dental office just before 5 pm on Thursday.
Father and son, Jack and Benjamin are both said to be beloved members of the Jewish-Persian community in the area.
The alleged gunman, wearing all-black clothing, was identified as Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29. He also allegedly injured two others at the practice, including the receptionist Yareli Carrillo, 28. Both were rushed to the hospital in serious, but stable condition.
The Jewish dentist in San Diego, who was shot dead allegedly by a ‘disgruntled’ ex-patient on Thursday, has been named as 28-year-old Dr. Benjamin Ariel Harouni. He is seen celebrating his 28th birthday on February 20
Benjamin Harouni earned his undergraduate degrees at the University of Southern California before studying at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, where he earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery
Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29, was arrested after a desperate search following the shooting at the Smile Plus Dentistry & Orthodontics in El Cajon
Abdulkareem was arrested on Thursday about five hours after the shooting about 20 miles away from where the incident took place. He was found to be armed with a loaded handgun and several loaded handgun magazines.
Police on Friday said Abdulkareem had legally purchased the gun he used in the attack only two weeks ago. An exact motive for the shooting remains unclear.
Benjamin Harouni earned his undergraduate degrees at the University of Southern California before studying at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, where he earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery.
Harouni had said becoming a dentist had been his lifelong passion and loved to take pride in providing all of his patients with ‘honest and quality dental care’, according to his website.
The office’s receptionist Yareli Carrillo, 28, was shot in the legs but is in stable condition
The office was run by the father-and-son team of doctors Jack (pictured) and Benjamin Harouni
Dr. Benjamin Harouni, second from left, is seen together with family members
Family members, including Benjamin’s grandfather Sam Harouni, paid tribute to the dentist
Harouni said he loved to take pride in providing all of his patients with ‘honest and quality dental care,’ according to his website
Ben Harouni, pictured as a young boy, had said becoming a dentist had been his lifelong passion
Images of a SWAT team outside of the El Cajon dental office where a shooting unfolded Thursday afternoon
Captain Rob Ransweiler said Abdulkareem was familiar to the people inside the office.
‘There were a lot of family members on scene,’ he said. ‘Most of the people who were involved, they have information as to who was involved.’
Police believe that Abdulkareem, a resident of El Cajon, rented a white U-Haul pickup with an Arizona license plate just an hour before the shooting.
He reportedly used the vehicle to flee the scene after he opened fire.
‘A vigilant citizen alerted the San Diego Police Department that they believed the U-Haul truck involved in the shooting was parked near 6thAvenue and Quince Street in San Diego,’ police said in a statement about Abdulkareem’s arrest.
Dr Benjamin Harouni was shot several times and died on the sidewalk outside his dental office
The suspect’s vehicle, a white U-Haul pickup truck with Arizona license plate AM14894, was identified shortly after the shooting. Police said they then confirmed that the suspect had rented the truck
‘San Diego Police officers responded and discovered the truck was unoccupied. A short time later, officers located Abdulkareem in the area and took him into custody without incident.’
Abdulkareem is charged with multiple felony charges, including one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He is being held without bail.
The FBI’s San Diego team, as well as the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are aiding the investigation.