WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (TCN) — Police recently arrested a Texas man and four other suspects from California in connection with the fatal shooting of a 61-year-old doctor outside his family medical clinic in what investigators believe was a murder-for-hire plot.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, on Aug. 23, Dr. Hamid Mirshojae was walking toward his car when a masked man hiding behind the victim’s clinic approached him and shot him in an “ambush-style attack.” The suspect fled the scene. Officers responded and found Mirshojae in the parking lot deceased with an apparent gunshot wound.
Several months later, on Dec. 10, police arrested two suspects, 41-year-old Evan Hardman of Tomball, Texas, and 40-year-old Ashley Sweeting of Reseda, California. Hardman faces a charge of murder with special circumstances, and Sweeting was charged with accessory to murder.
According to KTTV-TV, Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Schwartz alleges Sweeting drove the shooter to and from the clinic in what “appeared to be a murder-for-hire.”
Per court documents reviewed by KTTV, Hardman also faces a special circumstance allegation of murder by means of lying in wait, as well as allegations that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm and that he has one or more prior serious or violent felony convictions
The following two days, police also arrested 26-year-old Sarallah Jawed on a charge of murder with special circumstances, as well as 46-year-old Shawn Randolph and 53-year-old Ahang Mirshojae on a charge of murder each.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Ahang Mirshojae used to be married to the victim, and investigators reportedly raided her home on Dec. 12.
Hardman and Jawed also face one count each of assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly attacking Hamid Mirshojae with baseball bats in a separate incident in May.
Authorities did not provide a motive.