A young man from Harrison Township has admitted to shooting and killing a suspected burglar at his family’s mobile phone store two years ago.
Mahmoud Asad Abdellatif, 21, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court this past Thursday. Several other charges, including murder, felonious assault, reckless homicide, and illegally discharging a firearm, were dismissed as part of the plea deal, according to court records.
The incident took place on January 10, 2023, and resulted in the death of 36-year-old Larry Swain Jr., a man from Troy. Abdellatif’s sentencing is set for April 8.
The trouble began at the Boost Mobile store on North Dixie Drive, a business run by Abdellatif’s family. He lived in an apartment directly above the store and said he was upstairs when he heard strange noises coming from below. Suspecting a break-in, he grabbed his handgun and went outside, heading down the stairs to investigate.
Peering into the store, Abdellatif saw someone inside. Acting quickly, he fired several shots through the window, hitting the burglar. Despite being injured, the burglar managed to flee the scene.
Later, Dayton police were called to a home on North Horton Street after reports of a man with gunshot wounds. Authorities confirmed that the injured man was Larry Swain Jr., the same individual Abdellatif had seen inside the store.
The case has sparked discussions about self-defense and the use of firearms in such situations. While Abdellatif’s actions led to the dismissed charges, the guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter acknowledges that the situation ended tragically.
Abdellatif will soon face the court’s decision on his punishment. His story serves as a reminder of how split-second decisions can have life-changing consequences for everyone involved.
