Attempted murder charge filed for alleged attack on Imam; charges filed in alternative

Today, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced felony attempted murder and stalking charges filed against Abdul Raouf Afridi. Charges were filed in the alternative as well.

On February 23, 2026, K.D. was leaving his residence in Sandy to attend prayer at the Utah Islamic Center when he saw a white vehicle with its headlights on. K.D. saw the suspect allegedly step out of the vehicle and stand in a position as if he were holding a gun. As K.D. passed the suspect, he saw a light from whatever the suspect was holding.  K.D. then called 911. On surveillance video later collected by investigators, you can hear as K.D. drives by the defendant five clicks before the defendant drops his arms. After this incident, the defendant got into his car and drove to catch up to K.D. When the defendant caught up to K.D.’s car, he allegedly started shooting at his vehicle. When police later looked at K.D.’s car, there were eight bullet holes all along the passenger side, and nine shell casings were found. A different surveillance video showed 12 gunshots directed towards K.D.’s vehicle. 

Using the surveillance video, investigators determined that the car’s plates were registered to a dealership, Premier Auto Brokerage, and that the defendant holds a dealer license there and uses a dealer license plate on his vehicle. Detectives were able to locate the vehicle, a white Kia Optima, allegedly used in the assault in the dealership parking lot. After obtaining a search warrant, police found a gun in the Kia with bullets that matched the casings on the scene of the shooting. Cell phone records showed that the defendant was in the area of the shooting hours prior to the incident. Post-Miranda, the defendant told police that the Kia had been on his lot for months and that he was the only one with access to the vehicle. After obtaining a search warrant for the dealership, police were able to find the defendant’s cell phone, a key to the Kia, and bullet cartridges that matched the type of gun used in the shooting.

Today, the defendant was charged with one count of first-degree felony attempted murder and one count of second-degree felony stalking, or in the alternative, one count of second-degree felony stalking with force likely to cause death or injury, one count of third-degree felony aggravated assault, and 13 counts of third-degree felony discharge of a firearm.

The case was originally investigated as a possible hate crime; however, detectives determined the victim and defendant knew each other previously, and past interactions likely motivated the alleged actions of the defendant.

“Though the investigation ultimately showed that this alleged crime was not a hate crime, it initially caused concern that a Muslim Imam was targeted during Ramadan.  This is still an act of violence on a member of our community. This office will fight for accountability for a victim who was simply leaving his home to go to his mosque,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “We appreciate the work of the Sandy Police Department for the thorough investigation of this alleged crime, which led to the filing of these charges.   All persons accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law."