PROSECUTORS SAY HAMEER ALKOTAIT ROBBED, burned and killed Gabino Rodriguez. Alkotait's co-defendant — A man was sentenced to 18-20 years in prison for murdering a gay Detroit man in 2013.
Prosecutors say Hameer Alkotait robbed, burned and killed Gabino Rodriguez. Alkotait's co-defendant, Andrew Czarnecki, was sentenced to life in prison without parole after a trial in December 2018.
Alkotait and Czarnecki targeted Rodriguez for robbery because he was gay. Prosecutors say during the robbery, they savagely beat and strangled him, and then burned his body beyond recognition.
The cases were prosecuted by those of the Fair Michigan Justice Project, a program that assists law enforcement and prosecutors in solving serious crimes against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons.
“After six long years, justice has finally been attained for the family of Gabino Rodriguez," said Fair Michigan President Alanna Maguire. "These cold-case murder convictions resulted from Detective Kevin Wight and the Detroit Police Department’s tenacious investigation of this brutal crime, and Special Prosecutor Jaimie Powell Horowitz’s determined prosecutions. We are grateful for their efforts, and we are committed to continue the fight for justice for the LGBTQ community in Wayne County.”
