Man Allows Two Men into His Apartment Building, They Kill and Steal from Him

Two Men Charged with Murder Following Violent Attack in D.C.

Two men from Washington, D.C., are facing serious charges, including first-degree murder, after an incident that led to the death of a 40-year-old man in his apartment. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charges against Rico Barnes, 36, and Alphonso Walker, 39, in connection with the killing of Saeed Hamad Hussein.

The alleged murder took place in a loft-style one-bedroom apartment located in the 1400 block of Rhode Island Avenue NW, not far from Logan Circle. The Daily Mail reported that over $480,800 was involved in the case.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, authorities were called to the scene around 3:33 a.m. on February 11, 2026. They responded to a 911 call reporting smoke coming from the condo. Upon entering the apartment, which was found unlocked, first responders discovered Hussein lying on the floor, unconscious and bound at the wrists and ankles. His death was attributed to his injuries discovered at the scene, where the apartment appeared otherwise unoccupied.

The arrest affidavit provided more context, noting the discovery of two 25-pound metal dumbbells near the victim’s body.

Surveillance footage reportedly showed Hussein entering the building around 1:30 a.m., with Barnes and Walker following closely behind. Police have stated that he had just returned home after picking up food.

Interim Police Chief Jeffrey W. Carroll commented, “They knocked on the door and he let them in. In this case, they just took advantage of him.” The assault began in the lobby of the luxury building and escalated off-camera, leaving blood stains around the area.

As the three moved to Hussein’s condo, emergency responders found him in a room filled with smoke. The District of Columbia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined that Hussein had died from blunt force trauma and strangulation with a ligature. He had multiple skull fractures and abrasions on his neck consistent with a cord or similar object being used.

Additionally, it was reported that Hussein’s upper body suffered severe burns, which investigators concluded occurred after his death.

Preliminary investigations suggest robbery was the motive, as the apartment was found ransacked. Items missing included a laptop and an electric bicycle charger, with the bicycle itself unaccounted for.

An acquaintance of the suspects allegedly told detectives that Barnes and Walker returned to the apartment complex post-murder, claiming to carry a bag containing around $50,000 in foreign currency, along with jewelry, a laptop, and a foreign passport believed to be from El Salvador.

This acquaintance also mentioned that the pair referred to the victim as a “foreigner” and boasted about having knocked him out, only to beat him again when he regained consciousness.

When detectives began their investigation, they found that Hussein’s cell phone was missing, prompting them to trace his last known location. Despite his phone being off, it rang near Howard University shortly after the suspects left the apartment, aiding in their capture.

Interestingly, it came to light that Barnes worked just a short distance from the crime scene, while Walker was wearing a court-ordered GPS ankle monitor, which placed him at the scene during the murder.