Iowa teen sentenced for stabbing his older brother to death

DES MOINES, Iowa (TCN) — A teen will spend up to a decade behind bars for stabbing his older brother to death last year.

The Polk County Attorney’s Office announced that 17-year-old Mohamed Elzubeir pleaded guilty Aug. 6 to voluntary manslaughter and received a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The defendant was 16 at the time of the stabbing but turns 18 next month. Prosecutors said both the prosecution and defense recommended prison time for Elzubeir.

According to the attorney’s office, Mohamed Elzubeir said that on June 11, 2024, his brother, 19-year-old Abdelmagid “Majet” Elzubeir, was “screaming” at him and “pushed him before he swung at him with the knife.” The defendant reportedly told the court numerous times that he “had blood on my hands,” and he said, “I stabbed my brother in the neck” with a kitchen knife. Mohamed Elzubeir claimed his brother had bullied him for years.

According to prosecutors, the defendant “has a long, troubled history of managing his behaviors.” He was reportedly in a car crash in 2021 and suffered a traumatic brain injury, exacerbating his behavioral issues. The judge said the defendant “appears to do well in a structured environment,” and “prison would keep the community safe while providing the opportunity for rehabilitation.”

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