Police Investigate Death Of UM Student
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Coral Gables police called in Miami-Dade homicide Sunday afternoon when the body of 23-year-old University of Miami student Yasser Abualfaraj was found by his roommate in apartment number 20 of the well-kept Santona condo and rental complex, just across South Dixie Highway from UM.
The murder scene in the apartment was described as gruesome.
Miami-Dade Police homicide detectives worked into the evening, going door to door at the condo building located across from the University of Miami campus.
At one point, they had a lengthy conversation with a young man wearing a mask.
Abualfaraj, from Saudi Arabia, shared the apartment with the one roommate. The complex was put on lockdown.
"There was crime scene tape around the parking lot. No one was allowed to enter or exit the parking lot," said longtime complex resident Rachel Turetsky.
"I saw them leaving with the body this morning and that was little bit harrowing," said Andrea Levine.
Homicide detectives are troubled by the bloody murder of the young man, trying to make a life for himself.
"What is disturbing is you have a 23-year-old male, in the University, trying to better himself. And because of this incident and the magnitude of this incident, it's really very disturbing," said Det. Chris Thomas.
Residents are concerned as the killer is still on the loose.
"I am scared because I don't know who did it," said Turetsky. "Is it someone from outside? They say with murder, it is someone who is known to the person who died."
UM students were alarmed to learn of the slaying scarcely a block from campus.
"It's awful. There's a lot of things happening in today's environment, and a lot of it, it's really just actually crazy," said UM student Lily Feldman.
The Dean of UM's school of architecture gathered students together outside the building on campus to inform them of their classmate's death and cancel Monday classes.
Meanwhile, residents of the condo building are concerned and seeking answers from police.
"I said 'should I be worried, can I sleep at home?' He said 'while we are here you should not be worried.' That does not leave me with much. I did not sleep well knowing that," said resident Elizabeth Rodriguez.
Detectives are asking anyone who may have information on Abualfaral's death to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
