A 20-year-old American murder suspect, Salman Haji, who had been evading law enforcement for over a year, has been arrested in Kenya and deported to the United States to face serious felony charges, including robbery and murder.

Haji fled the U.S. in January 2024, shortly after allegedly launching a violent crime spree in Washington state. According to investigators, the ordeal began when Haji reportedly staged a minor traffic accident in Des Moines, WA, to carjack a white Porsche. He is accused of threatening the driver with a firearm, stealing her vehicle and bank cards, and fleeing the scene.

Surveillance footage later placed Haji and a suspected accomplice at multiple locations, including a Normandy Park grocery store and Tukwila Costco, where an attempted robbery tragically escalated. A 67-year-old woman was fatally shot after resisting the theft of her sister’s handbag.

Authorities later recovered the stolen vehicle in SeaTac, but Haji had already fled the country.

The international pursuit culminated in Kenya, where Haji was arrested through a coordinated effort between the FBI, Tukwila Police Department, and Kenyan law enforcement. He was deported and booked into King County Jail in Seattle, where prosecutors have deemed him a flight risk and set bail at $5 million (approx. Ksh.645 million).

Haji is scheduled for arraignment next week and, if convicted, could face life imprisonment. His alleged accomplice, Ilyiss Abdi, was arrested in 2024 and has pleaded not guilty. Abdi’s trial is set for October.

This high-profile case underscores the strength of international cooperation in pursuing justice across borders.