GLENDALE, Ariz. — A 23-year-old Glendale man accused of targeting elderly women in two separate purse-snatching incidents is facing a first-degree murder charge after one of the encounters turned deadly, prosecutors said.
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Ali Hchaimi appeared in court on Sunday, where prosecutors outlined allegations that they say show a pattern of preying on elderly victims.
According to prosecutors, the most recent incident occurred when Hchaimi allegedly attempted to steal a purse from an elderly woman who was with her husband. The encounter escalated, resulting in the woman being fatally struck by a vehicle.
“He attempted to take the purse of another elderly woman who was with her husband, and the struggle over the purse resulted in the victim being run over by the defendant’s vehicle,” a prosecutor told the court.
Prosecutors said the victim was run over from “her head to her toe,” resulting in her death.
The fatal incident came just days after another alleged robbery involving an elderly woman. Prosecutors said Hchaimi followed the woman home after watching her withdraw money from a bank.
“The defendant followed an elderly woman home from the bank after observing her withdraw $5,000 and accosted her when she got home, taking her purse by force, including the money and her medication,” a prosecutor said during the hearing.
Hchaimi is charged with first-degree murder, a Class 1 felony, in connection with the fatal purse-snatching. He is also charged with robbery, a Class 3 felony. In the earlier incident, he faces an additional robbery charge.
During the hearing, the judge set bond at $1.25 million cash-only in the murder case and $50,000 cash-only in the robbery case.
“Therefore, as for the murder case, the court will set bail in the amount of $1.25 million that is a cash-only appearance bond. As to the robbery case, the court will set bail in the amount of $50,000 that is a cash-only appearance,” the judge said.
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Hchaimi requested an Arabic interpreter during the court appearance. After hearing the conditions of his bond, he asked the court to consider home confinement because of what he described as mental health concerns.
“I have a medical or mental issue, psychological issue, perhaps, that I cannot stay in closed places, in closed rooms. Perhaps, maybe the best option is to put me, if possible, to be to be to be held in custody somehow at home, my mother’s home, or something. I can be put on a leg on my belt on my feet or something, and I can promise that I won’t leave home at all,” Hchaimi said.
The court maintained the bond conditions.
Prosecutors argued that Hchaimi poses a significant threat to public safety and described him as an extreme danger to the community.
He is scheduled to return to court on June 26.
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