Thursday, January 6, 2005

Reward offered in Ferndale musician's slaying

Police suspect the motive was robbery, but other scenarios are being considered.

By Mike Martindale / The Detroit News

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FERNDALE -- A reward was offered Wednesday for information leading to the killer of a well-liked musician found dead in his studio this week.

Amjed "A.J." Abdallah, 36, of Ferndale, was found Tuesday in the first-floor hallway of Studio Eight, a West Eight Mile Road recording studio. An autopsy Wednesday determined Abdallah died from multiple gunshot wounds; detectives were trying to determine a motive for the killing.

"We're running down leads and while robbery is suspected, it could be something else," Ferndale Police Lt. Norm Raymond said, adding that Abdallah may have received some threats from others in the highly competitive recording business. Abdallah, a former percussionist and backup singer for the Howling Diablos, a popular Detroit-based rock band, lived in a second-floor loft over the studio, about a quarter mile west of Woodward. Last month he put the building up for sale; it was listed on eBay and a real estate agent erected a sign advertising it as the former studio of Eminem to attract interest.

Unfortunately, some friends, such as Martin "Tino" Gross, lead singer for the Diablos, believes it may have prompted unwanted attention.

"You run a studio, you open your door to the street," said Gross, who hosted a wake for his friend Tuesday night.. "Unless you're big, you don't have the luxury of picking and choosing your clients."

Some studio equipment is missing, Raymond confirmed. Funeral arrangements were unavailable.

Anyone with tips leading to the killer is asked to call police at (248) 541-3650.

You can reach Mike Martindale at (248) 647-7226 or mmartindale@detnews.com.