ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — When pulled around by New Mexico law enforcement, the suspect in the killings of 4 Muslim guys in Albuquerque denied any link to the crimes that shook the metropolis and its tiny Muslim group — and told authorities he was so unnerved by the violence that he was driving to Houston to glimpse for a new household, court docket files mentioned.

The documents manufactured public Tuesday evening in a legal grievance explained Muhammad Syed, 51, only experienced outfits, shoes and a handgun when he was arrested Monday throughout a site visitors halt a lot more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from his property in Albuquerque.

But investigators determied that bullet casings uncovered in Syed’s automobile matched the caliber of the weapons thought to have been applied in two of the killings and that bullet casings found at all those crime scenes were connected to a gun found at Syed’s house, the felony criticism claimed.

Syed, an Afghan immigrant, explained to detectives he experienced been with the distinctive forces in Afghanistan and fought versus the Taliban. He also denied getting any involvement in the murders. Syed was scheduled to seem in court Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors planned to inquire that he be held with out bail pending trial and court docket paperwork did not list an lawyer who could discuss on his behalf.

The ambush killings of the 4 Muslim adult males sent concern rippling by way of the Muslim community of New Mexico’s major metropolis but created a flood of information, including tips that led to the arrest of Syed, who understood the victims, authorities said.

Following the arrest, Albuquerque’s Muslim local community breathed “an extraordinary sigh of relief,” mentioned Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico. “Lives have been turned upside down.”

The first killing final November was followed by 3 a lot more between July 26 and Aug. 5.

Albuquerque Police Main Harold Medina reported it was not clear but whether the deaths must be categorized as dislike crimes or serial killings or each.

Syed had lived in the United States for about five a long time, law enforcement explained.

“The offender understood the…