San Mateo County (Map, News) - A second suspect in the September freeway shooting of a San Mateo man on his way to baby-sit his sister’s children appeared in court to face murder charges Friday.

Burlingame police arrested 18-year-old Mohammed Rabah on Thursday morning at his family’s home in Hayward, San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

“Burlingame police worked very strongly and aggressively putting this case together,” he said.

On Wednesday, prosecutors determined police had enough evidence to arrest Rabah, and Judge Lisa Novak signed a warrant.

Prosecutors believe Rabah was driving on Sept. 30 when passenger Doyal “Ali” Webber, 18, used Rabah’s gun to fatally shoot 25-year-old motorist Lon Dell Wilson on northbound U.S. Highway 101 in Burlingame.

Investigators say Rabah’s car and two others boxed in Wilson’s Honda after a traffic altercation. Webber, part of a group of young people driving from East Palo Alto into San Francisco for the night, allegedly shot at Wilson several times, hitting him at least once in the chest. Wilson, who did not know his attackers, died after his car ran off the road near the Broadway exit.

“Our belief is this is purely road rage,” Wagstaffe said Friday. “If you take angry teenagers carrying guns, that’s a pretty good recipe for great bodily injury or death to another human being,”

Bespectacled and wearing orange jail clothing, Rabah appeared before San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Garratt but did not enter a plea. He was ordered to return to court Feb. 8. Prosecutor James Wade presented a disk to the judge containing 937 pages of evidence against Rabah.

Outside of court, Rabah’s attorney, Ian Loveseth, said he believes the gun belonged to someone else inside the car that night.

Both Rabah and Webber are eligible for the death penalty or life without parole if convicted of first- degree murder. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty, Wagstaffe said.

Wagstaffe declined to comment on whether there were more suspects in the crime.

Both Rabah and Webber remain in San Mateo County jail and have been denied bail. Webber, who was arrested in October after police released red-light camera photos of the cars, will appear in court Jan. 31 to set a preliminary hearing date.

tbarak@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:03 PM MST on Sat., Mar. 22, 2008 re: "Second suspect in fatal Highway 101 shooting arrested"

Examiner Reader said:
becuase rabah was the driver it is not his falt that doyal shot that young man lon may he R.I.P.. rabah is very young mabye he didnt know how to react

1 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

5:13 PM MST on Fri., Feb. 15, 2008 re: "Second suspect in fatal Highway 101 shooting arrested"

Examiner Reader said:
I disagree with the comment of the person who thinks he shouldn't be charged with murder - Rabah was one of 3 cars that boxed Lon Dell in (one in front, one on the side and one in back) - it is also alleged that the gun used belonged to Rabah. Also, neither Rabah's family nor the alleged shooter Webber's family have even looked at Lon Dell's family to show any type of empathy for what has happened - they show up in court to support their own but do not show any sympathy for what their children have done... maybe society is better off having these monsters locked up and I hope and pray that all truths come out and they are held accountable for what they did to contribute to Lon Dell's death - even if the driver did not pull the trigger - he helped to ambush and kill another person - from what Rabah's brother had said that he had begged Webber not to do it.... Rabah had control of the car - he could have slammed on the brakes, Rabah had a choice, now let him live with it.

14 agree | 14 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

5:28 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008 re: "Second suspect in fatal Highway 101 shooting arrested"

Examiner Reader said:
i think juat cause he was driving he should be charged with murder

11 agree | 9 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate