By DANIEL HERATY
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – A 23-year-old man is dead and another man is in custody following a shooting about 7:30 p.m. July 13 at Riverside Academy, 6345 Schaefer.
Fadi Hassan Faraj, 35, was charged by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy July 15 with first degree murder and felony firearms possession. Faraj faces life in prison if convicted.
According to published reports, Hassan Zeidan and Faraj, both Dearborn residents, got into a physical fight during a basketball game at the court behind the academy.
Faraj alleges Zeidan punched him after tempers flared following what witnesses said was a threat by the suspect to beat up Zeidan.
According to witnesses, Faraj then went to his car, got a gun, and shot Zeidan several times. Published reports indicate Faraj tried to flee the scene, but witnesses held him until police arrived.
Police Chief Ronald Haddad did not return calls seeking comment on this story by press time.
In a statement, Regional Director for the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Imad Hamad expressed sympathy for the victim’s family.
“(Zeidan’s) shooting is a truly senseless act and I hope that this unfortunate occurrence awakens us all to the fact that we are not immune to random violence, and must remain vigilant in preventing such acts,” Hamad said.
Faraj was arraigned July 15 in 19th District Court by Judge Mark Somers. A preliminary exam based on the evidence against him is scheduled for August 12.