Teen to stand trial in carjacking that capped three-day spree

Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News

Roseville -- A Flint teen was ordered to stand trial today on charges connected to what prosecutors describe as the final act in a three-day crime spree that included armed robbery, carjackings and murder.

After two hours of testimony, Roseville District Court Judge Catherine B. Steenland ruled Ihab Maslamani will proceed to trial on counts of carjacking, felony firearm and possession of a stolen weapon on allegations he's behind an Aug. 11 carjacking at a Wal-Mart in Roseville.

The carjacking victim -- David Hassroune -- and several Roseville police officers took the stand today to testify during a preliminary hearing for the 17-year-old.

Hassroune told the court he was seated in his 2002 Honda Civic, preparing to put Freon into his air conditioner, when a man walked up and held a gun to his chest.

"He said, 'Get out of the car and start running,' " Hassroune said, adding he did not see the man's face, just a gray jacket, wig and tattoos on the suspect's hands and forearms. "My heart dropped three feet to my stomach. ... I got out of the car."

Hassroune said he ran back toward the shopping center, yelling, "He's got a gun," then used a good Samaritan's phone to call 911 and report the crime.

Roseville officers testified they first spotted Maslamani in the parking lot, tossing an Afro-style wig to the ground. Then he ran to the back of the 12 Mile and Gratiot Avenue complex, threw something into a trash compactor and tried to flee, but was subdued with a Taser.

Police testified a gun and its corresponding loaded magazine were recovered nearby. The weapon had been reported stolen out of Detroit days earlier, police said.

Roseville Police Sgt. Keith Waller, who interviewed Maslamani after his arrest, said the teen -- who first identified himself as Ihab Gills -- confessed to having the gun clip. He also said he approached a man in the lot to ask for a ride to Flint.

"He (Maslamani) asked a man in the lot if he knew how to get to Flint and offered him $50 to take him. He said no," Waller said. "Then, he jokingly made the statement: 'Well then, give me your car.' "

Although defense attorneys noted the victim's inability to identify the teen, Steenland thought there was enough evidence to order the teen to trial.

"To me, just that confession in itself, 'gimme your car,' that's enough," she said.

In October, Maslamani was ordered to stand trial on charges of bank robbery, armed robbery, kidnapping and felony firearm stemming from an. Aug. 10 robbery at Flagstar Bank on Crocker and 16 Mile.

Prosecutors contend the teen committed the Harrison Township bank robbery -- in which he attempted to take a hostage and made off with more than $6,000 in cash -- one day before he was nabbed during the botched carjacking attempt in Roseville.

The teen is also accused in the Aug. 9 abduction and death of Matthew Landry of Chesterfield Township.

Maslamani is expected to undergo a preliminary hearing Thursday, along with 16-year-old Robert Taylor of Detroit, on charges of felony homicide, carjacking, kidnapping and larceny offenses in connection with 21-year-old Landry's disappearance and death.

Prosecutors say Landry was carjacked Aug. 9 from an Eastpointe Quizno's sub shop at 10 Mile and Gratiot.

And on Aug. 10, after Maslamani is alleged to have robbed the Harrison Township bank, prosecutors say he fled the scene in Landry's green Honda Accord, which was parked about a block away.

But prosecutors say the teen's crime spree ended Aug. 11, after he was arrested following the Wal-Mart carjacking.

At the time of his arrest, officers recovered a black handgun and a couple $10 bills with serial numbers matching some of those stolen from the bank.

Landry's car was soon recovered on Detroit's northeast side. In it, investigators found a note demanding $50,000 and a map to the Flagstar Bank targeted in the hold-up. Prosecutors say the note also had Maslamani's fingerprints on it.

Landry's body was later found in an abandoned house in Detroit, not far from where his car was found. He suffered a single gunshot wound to the head.

A friend of the Landry family, Bob Perugi, sat in on the court hearing today and clapped after the judge made her ruling.

"I want to make sure that this guy sees my face every time he's in court," Perugi said. "It's sad there are people like that in this world. He has no remorse."

Maslamani is being housed in Macomb County Jail on a $2 million bond.

An arraignment for Maslamani in Macomb County Circuit Court is set for Nov. 23.

cferretti@detnews.com (586) 468-0343