For the first time in nearly two years, there is a murder case working in the county.
A Platte County man was charged Wednesday morning with murder after a man’s body was found in North Congress Playground Park, located at 70th and North Congress in Platte County.
Ali M. Mahamud, 19, of Kansas City in Platte County, faces second degree murder and armed criminal action charges for stabbing to death Sulleyman M. Suleiman, 25.
The body was found face down in a shallow creek in the park.
Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said his office filed the charges hours after Suleiman’s body was discovered. A spokesperson in Zahnd’s office said Wednesday morning that the suspect was still being held by Kansas City and awaiting transfer to the Platte County Jail.
According to court documents, Mahamud was arrested Tuesday after Kansas City, Missouri police officers went to the Manchester Bridge over I-70 in response to a report of a disturbance and possible suicide attempt. Mahamud allegedly had tried to jump off the bridge. He was pulled off the bridge and held by a witness who knew him and another passerby until police arrived.
The witness allegedly became suspicious of Mahamud earlier in the morning after Mahamud picked the witness up in a van at approximately 8 a.m. The witness asked where Suleiman was, and Mahamud drove the witness to several locations where Mahamud said he had seen Suleiman.
Prosecutors allege the witness later got out of the van, and Mahamud then attempted to run over the witness with the van. Mahamud left in the van, and the witness followed him in another vehicle to the Manchester Bridge.
Police later searched the van and found large quantities of blood inside. Suleiman’s body was found later on June 7, allegedly with multiple stab wounds. In a statement of probable cause filed with the court, authorities say Mahamud admitted stabbing the victim several times and killing him inside the witness’ van while the van was stopped in the area near the park. Authorities say Mahamud admitted he disposed of the victim’s body in the park.
The suspect lives roughly 10 blocks from the park, authorities said.
Zahnd said if convicted of the murder charge, Mahamud faces up to life in prison. If he is convicted of armed criminal action, the minimum prison sentence is 3 years.
Mahamud is being held on a $250,000 cash bond. No court date has been set.
Prior to this week, the last murder in Platte County occurred in July of 2003 when Laurie Andrus, 41, was murdered at the Bicycle Club Apartments in southern Platte County. Jody Malone, 20, of Gladstone was convicted of that killing and sentenced to 25 years in prison.