By Khalida Sarwari
Salinas police are investigating the murder of a 47-year-old homeless man on Tuesday.
Billy Idris Rajah Jr. was killed at about 4:45 p.m. in the area of Market Way and Soledad Street, police said.
Rajah was airlifted to a hospital with severe injuries, where he was pronounced deceased at about 9:30 p.m.
Adnan Nijmeddin, 54, was arrested in connection with his death. Police allege that according to witness statements, there was an argument between the two after which Nijmeddin deliberately struck Rajah, chased him as he tried to run away, and then ran over him.
Nijmeddin fled afterward, but officers tracked a trail of fluids his car left to the 200 block of Commission Street. There, officers located the car parked and Nijmeddin inside a nearby business, police said.
After refusing for several minutes to come out of the building, Nijmeddin surrendered to officers and was arrested and booked into Monterey County Jail.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the police investigations division at (831) 758-7226 or the anonymous tip line at (831) 775-4222, or the We-Tip Line at (800) 78-CRIME. Information can also be sent via text with the code “SPD831” to “847411”.
