TAMPA, Fla. — An 18-year-old Hillsborough County man charged with killing his father entered a plea of not guilty on Wednesday.
Ismael Ali is facing one count of premeditated first-degree murder in the death of his father, Abdirashid Ali.
According to a Tampa Police Department report, officers were dispatched to the 5200 block of Sonora Court in Tampa on February 16, 2018, after residents called complaining of a 'foul odor,' emitting from one of the units.
After obtaining a search warrant, investigators went inside where they discovered the 50-year-old victim deceased as the result of homicidal violence. The medical examiner reports that there were approximately 15-20 stab wounds on the victim's body. It was determined that Abdirashid had been deceased since approximately February 10.
Evidence collected from the crime scene included a screw covered in blood and an envelope with a bloody shoe print on it, according to the arrest report.
During the crime scene documentation, TPD personnel found disturbing messages written in marker on the walls in Ismael's bedroom. The writing read, "I hate my dad, die dad die, die dad die, dad must die, *&^% my father, I will kill him, he will die." The wall also had the word "die" written several hundred times, according to police. There was also writing on the back of the bedroom door that stated, "My dad will die a painful horrible death. All alone so sad", and "I don't care dad will lose".
Ismael was arrested two days later by Temple Terrace Police for shoplifting. When detectives interviewed him, he claimed he had not been home since February 12 or 13. He also had large cuts on both his hands, which were stitched. He told authorities he got the cuts on his hands during a fight 3-4 weeks prior and received treatment at a local hospital.
Hospital records show Ismael received treatment on February 11 for the cuts on his hands, he told hospital staff that he cut his hands while cutting meat.
Ismael is Abdirashid's only son and identified that the room where the writing was found was his bedroom, according to an arrest report.
DNA analysis found that the blood on the screwdriver handle belonged to both the victim and Ismael. The blade of the screwdriver contained the victim's blood, according to the report. FDLE's analysis of the evidence also found that the bloody shoe print was a match to Ismael.
Ismael has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder. He entered a plea of not guilty on Wednesday. His next court hearing is scheduled for May 3.
