An El Cajon woman who was discovered covered in stab wounds on the steps outside her apartment had screamed for help after the attack, neighbors said Friday.
Resident Han Younan said it was the middle of the night when he heard noises coming from the unit at The Ballantyne apartment complex.
“It was a lady screaming like ‘Help, help, help’ for like about one minute and then the noise stopped,” he said.
El Cajon police say they found the woman on the stairs and her teenage son inside the apartment with similar stab wounds.
The woman's other son, Mohammed Raad Agab, 20, was arrested and booked on charges of murder and attempted murder.
Agab's 14-year-old brother was found with multiple stab wounds. Heartland Fire/Paramedics transported him to the hospital, and he is expected to survive.
Lt. Eric Taylor with the El Cajon Police said they received a family disturbance call from the complex on Ballantyne Street north of E. Madison Avenue just before 1 a.m.
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The mother -- who has not been identified pending family notification -- her teenage son and Agab lived in the unit together, police said.
Family friend Mohammed Ali told NBC 7 that the suspect, who he identified as Majda Agab, had lived there up until recently.
Ali was shocked to learn of his friend's death.
“I can’t believe what’s going on, why he killed her or what happened,” he said.
He said the victim was a good woman who would help anyone. He also said he knew she had been having troubles with her older son and that she was afraid of him.
“She say my old son, he makes me trouble," he said.
“I think he’s a drug man that’s why he can’t control himself," Ali said. "Always he make trouble with his mom."
Ali told NBC 7 the suspect was planning on moving to Colorado to be with his father.
Other neighbors were unnerved to be awakened by the presence of police officers and crime scene tape outside their homes.
"El Cajon is kind of dangerous as it is, let alone in my apartment complex,” said resident Ashlie Baniak.
Police do not have a motive in this case. Agab is scheduled to be arraigned next Tuesday.
Anyone with information regarding the incident call the El Cajon Police Department at (619) 579-3311. Those who want to remain anonymous, can contact the Crime Stoppers line at (888) 580-8477.
