Michigan suspect allegedly killed man at barbershop he believed was ' a devil’ who had scammed him

A suspect in Michigan is accused of murdering a man he allegedly called a "demon" who allegedly scammed him years earlier, authorities said.

David Salam-Mikha Kanouna, 32, told a detective he allegedly wanted to kill 30-year-old Sharaz Hussain because Hussain had cheated him out of a $100,000 credit, the Macomb Daily reported, citing testimony at a Jan. 14 preliminary examination.

On June 13, 2020, Kanouna was driving by the The Barber Co. in Sterling Heights shortly after 9 p.m. when he spotted Hussain’s vehicle in the parking lot. The shop’s owner, Steven Shallal, testified Kanouna started “going crazy" after he told him to return when the store was open. “I was confused why he was there. Was he there for me?”

According to the businessman, Kanouna went into the shop anyway and cornered Hussain in a waxing room, where he allegedly began shooting the victim. “I seen bullets flying in slow motion. Shells were going all over,” Shallal testified.

Hussain was hit half a dozen times and suffered gunshot wounds to his head, neck and torso, an autopsy showed.

Following Hussain’s murder, the suspect allegedly told Sterling Heights police Detective Natalie Abrams he believed the victim was the “devil” and a “demon.”

The Mercury News previously reported Kahouna and Hussain may have been involved in a bad business transaction with each other years before the incident.

“I’m not going to get into the logistics of that business deal between them,” Lt. Mario Bastianelli said in 2020. “Since that business dealing, the relationship went south, and they had been in a feud since then.”

Kanouna is being held without bond on charges of first-degree murder, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Kanouna’s defense lawyer said Kanouna would plead not guilty by reason of insanity after a December competency hearing revealed his client allegedly battles mental health issues, including schizophrenia, according to The Mercury News.