Police have arrested two California brothers in connection with the slayings of their parents, whose bodies were found next to an eerie hand-written note on Sunday.
San Jose police were called to the home of Shamima and Golam Rabbi just before 2 p.m. on Sunday. Upon their arrival, officers found the bodies of the couple, each of whom had been shot at least once.
According to ABC 7 News, friends of the Rabbis called police after going into the couple’s home to check on them after not hearing from the family for several days.
Speaking to the news station, friends described the Rabbis, who left Bangladesh more than 30 years ago, as a “humble, peaceful and polite” couple.
“So that’s why it’s so difficult to reconcile to the tragic, violent end to such simple, gentle souls,” Hasan Rahim, a member of Evergreen Islamic Center, told ABC 7.
Citing unnamed sources, the news station spoke with the friends who claim they were inside the home shortly after the murders and said a note was found on the floor.
“Sorry, my first kill was clumsy,” the note reportedly read.
Also citing sources, NBC News reported the killer had also scribbled a rant on a wall inside the home.
“I can’t be like you, telling a lie. I can’t love someone without telling them,” the source claimed the message said.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a police spokesperson declined to comment on the existence of a note.
ABC 7 reported the couple were devoted members of their neighbourhood mosque.
“We are surprised that they are no longer with us and especially going away in such a manner is something we just can’t come to grips with,” Rahim told the news station.
On Thursday, police arrested Hasib Bin Golam Rabbi, 22, and his 17-year-old brother. Police didn’t release the teen’s name because of his age.
The San Francisco Chronicle was granted a brief interview with the older brother while he was in custody. He told the newspaper his younger brother is not part of the murders.
“The best thing if anyone wants to know what happened is to wait for the trial,” Hasib told the newspaper. “I want everyone to know what happened.”
Jason Wong, 16, a classmate of the teen at Evergreen Valley High School, said the junior was “quiet and kept to himself mostly.” Wong, also a junior, said he saw the teen on campus on Monday, the day after his parents were found dead.
“I didn’t think anything was wrong then because I didn’t know his parents had died,” Wong said. “But now it seems strange.”
The older son is expected to be in court on Friday and a date has yet to be set for the teen.
–with files from The Associated Press