The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee called Tuesday for an investigation of the Miami Beach Police Department for the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Husein Shehada.

Husein Shehada, killed by Miami Beach police Monday.

According to the Washington Post, Shehada was killed Monday after being approached by police who were responding to a 911 call about a man with a gun.
Eyewitnesses told the Miami Herald that police had a confrontation with Shehada and his brother, Samer, and then shot the unarmed man. Witnesses also said the officers asked after the shooting if Shehada and his brother were Arab or spoke Arabic.

Najwa Ghannam, the victim’s cousin, said police stopped the wrong man.

”How can an officer shoot an unarmed person to death?” she wrote to The Miami Herald. “They shot to kill. My cousin didn’t stand a chance.”

The Miami Beach Police Department has not released any additional information about the shooting or the officer in question, but according to Detective Juan Sanchez, a department spokesman, internal affairs is investigating what led to the shooting.

”We call on local, state and federal authorities to conduct a complete and thorough investigation of this tragic killing and expect that the findings be made public as quickly as possible,” ADC National Executive Director Kareem Shora said in a statement released Tuesday. “Police brutality, regardless of the victim’s race or origin, will not be tolerated.”

The ADC said they will be working with the victim’s family, legal counsel and the proper state and federal authorities for the duration of the case.

In addition to the shooting of Husein Shehada, his brother Samer, 31, was arrested and charged with domestic battery. Police said he was beating and kicking a woman.

Samer Shehada, arrested by Miami Beach police Monday for domestic battery after his brother was shot and killed.

His girlfriend, Karlia Karpel, denied the allegations.
”Can you look at me?” she asked The Herald. “Do you see any bruises? Nothing.” The Herald reported that there were no visible bruises or cuts on her face, arms or legs.

The family hired criminal defense attorney John Conti, who claims this is just police wrongdoing.

”I think it’s clear the police are desperately trying to cover up a police killing of an unsuspecting, innocent citizen,” Contini said.