West Valley man accused of robbing 2 senior women, killing 1 in hit-and-run

Police recently arrested a West Valley man suspected of snatching purses from two senior women and fatally running over one of them, according to court records.

Ali Raed Hchaimi, 23, is facing charges of first-degree murder and robbery, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. His bond is set at $1.3 million.

Investigators began tracking Hchaimi after he allegedly robbed a woman who had just withdrawn $5,000 from a Peoria credit union on June 13.

According to police, he entered the bank after her and left a minute or two later, then followed her to her mailbox near 83rd and Maryland avenues, north of Bethany Home Road. After complimenting her hat, he allegedly reached into her vehicle, took her purse and shoved her away.

The woman identified him in a photo lineup on June 18.

Two days later, Hchaimi allegedly killed a 66-year-old woman during a purse snatching in Glendale.

Details of Glendale murder case

Around 2:45 p.m. on June 20, the woman and her husband were shopping at the Fry’s Food Store at 59th Avenue and Beardsley Road, investigators said. After buying groceries, the couple drove to tour a home for sale in a nearby neighborhood.

As they pulled up, Hchaimi allegedly parked parallel to them and said they dropped a key at the grocery store.

The woman got out of the front passenger seat and walked up to the passenger side of the suspect’s car. When she lifted her purse to check her keys, Hchaimi allegedly reached out and grabbed it.

A struggle ensued, and he sped away, but the woman held onto the bag and was dragged under the rear wheels of the vehicle, according to arrest documents.

She suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead at 3:50 p.m. at HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center in Phoenix.

Hchaimi swapped the license plate on his Lexus between the two robberies, but detectives used vehicle records, surveillance footage and witness interviews and to link him to the crimes, according to the arrest report.

Police tracked down Hchaimi’s car and stopped him near 43rd Avenue and Cactus Road. After they arrested him, they found the deceased victim’s purse, credit cards, necklace and phone in his vehicle.

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