Salah Muhieddin / Family Photo
BY SUSAN DU
Homicide Watch Chicago
More than four months after Salah Yousef Jaber Muhieddin and his nephew were murder during a home invasion in the South Chicago neighborhood, family members are eagerly waiting for police to make an arrest.
Muhieddin, 35, and 18-year-old Harb Ibraihim Yousef Mohyddin were found dead in their apartment in the 9100 block of South Commercial Avenue about 5 a.m. Jan. 19, authorities said.
Muhieddin’s younger brother, Reyad Mohyeddin, said both men were hard workers intent on providing a decent life for their families.
“What is the world going to when two innocent men got murdered while they were peacefully sleeping? If the person will not be safe in his own home, where he will be safe?” Reyad Mohyeddin said. “I hope that Chicago Police take this case seriously and speed up the process.”
Police said the men were apparently shot during a home invasion. A neighbor called 911 after one of the men turned up at the door with a gunshot wound pleading for help, police said.
Both men were dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Reyad Mohyeddin said his brother was the main provider for a large family consisting of his elderly parents, wife and six children ranging from 1 to 12 years old.
He described his nephew as “an unfortunate kid who opened his eyes to find himself without a mother and father.”
Harb Mohyddin was by his grandparents and recently got engaged, Reyad Mohyeddin said. He was planning the wedding for later this year.
The two men lived together in the South Chicago community and worked an average of 16 hours a day to provide for their families — Muhieddin in a small restaurant and Harb Mohyddin in retail, Reyad Mohyeddin said.
Despite Muhieddin’s devotion to his jobs, Reyad Mohyeddin recalled how his brother found simple pleasure in Robert De Niro movies.
Harb Mohyddin / Family Photo
He said his nephew loved cartoons and video games.
“[Harb Mohyeddin] was still a kid inside,” Reyad Mohyeddin said.
“Our life will never be the same. Imagine what will happen to Salah’s six children. They are raised without a father. Imagine Salah’s father and mother, how they are feeling of losing their own son and losing their grandson,” Reyad said. “It’s simply disaster for all of us.”
Nobody has been charged in the murders.
Area South detectives are investigating.