Robbery Could Be Motive in Tobacco Shop Murders, Police Say

Police are now classifying their investigation of the deaths of two brothers who ran Evanston Pipe & Tobacco as a homicide investigation, and say they have not ruled out robbery as a motive, according to a press release issued Tuesday.

At the request of a concerned family member, Evanston police went to the store at 923 Davis St. downtown last Tuesday, July 30. They found the bodies of Azim Hakeem, 38, and Mobeen Hakeem, 34, both Evanston residents, in the basement of the shop around 8:20 p.m., according to police. Initially, police said they could find no indications that there was a robbery, and were classifying their investigation as a death investigation. 

Now that forensic investigators from the North Regional Major Crime Task Force (NORTAF) have completed an examination of the crime scene, however, police say they are now considering the deaths to be a homicide, according to Evanston Police spokesperson Perry Polinski.

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“Robbery has not been ruled out as a motive as both of the brothers’ wallets have not been accounted for,” Polinski said in a press release. But, he added, local business owners in the area should not be alarmed. 

“During the course of the preliminary investigation, nothing was found that would indicate the existence of an imminent threat to the downtown business community,” he said.

Both brothers were shot multiple times with what appears to be a small caliber weapon, Polinski said in the release. He said NORTAF is still analyzing evidence, gathering data, conducting interviews and following up on tips, and will be canvassing the area later today. Investigators will be talking to anyone in the area who may have heard or seen something around the time the brothers were shot.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Evanston Police detective bureau at 847-866-5040 or text a tip by texting the word CRIMES (274637) and include “EPD Tip” in the message text.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• No Cause of Death Yet in Tobacco Shop Shootings
• Brothers Shot to Death in Downtown Evanston Store
• Nearby Shop-Owners Remember Hakeem Brothers
• Family Issues Statement, Calling Brothers "Gentle, Humble Men"
• Photos From the Scene Outside Evanston Tobacco & Pipe Shop