2 arrested in Bay teen’s death
By Jeff Gallatin
Bay Village
Published April 2, 2008

Police have arrested two suspects, one of whom has allegedly confessed to the killing of one Bay Village teenager and wounding another in a planned robbery last week on West 83rd Street in Cleveland, law enforcement officials said.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office officials said Anthony Pollard, 17, of Cleveland, has confessed to shooting 19-year-old Mosa Shafik, of Bay Village, and his friend, 17-year-old Zaki Tourna, also of Bay Village, while the two were sitting in Shafik’s pickup truck shortly before 11 p.m. Prosecutors said Pollard told them he and another man decided to rob the teenagers. Police said Tourna told them the two teens were there to meet a friend in the Cleveland neighborhood. In addition, Anthony Faraj, 22, of Avon, has also been arrested by police in connection with the March 24 shooting, which took place a few blocks from where Pollard lives.

Mosa Shafik

Shafik died from a gunshot wound which went in under his armpit. Tourna has been released from the hospital after being treated for multiple gunshot wounds suffered in the same incident. Officials said Pollard told them the shooting wasn’t an accident.

“This wasn’t a random act,” said Ryan Miday of the prosecutor’s office. “It appears to have been set up.”

Pollard made his initial appearance in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Monday on charges of one count of aggravated murder, one count of attempted aggravated murder and two counts of aggravated robbery. County officials said  they intend to try  Pollard as an adult. Officials said he wil reach his 18th birthday a few weeks from now.

   A probable cause hearing for Pollard has been set for May 5. Officials said Pollard has faced domestic violence and felonious assault charges in the past and has been confined for several months on the offenses previously. He currently is being held in a Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Home.

Faraj, 22,  was on Warren County’s most wanted list for alleged drug trafficking in 2005. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to three years probation. As West Life went to press, prosecutor’s office officials said if he is charged, he was expected to make his initial court appearance either yesterday or today in Cleveland Municipal Court. Cleveland Police said they are continuing the investigation.

Bay Village City Police said they have not had any incidents or reports of problems relating to either of the two shooting victims or Pollard and Faraj.

Both shooting victims attended Bay High School where staff and friends described them as good students. Shafik was on the high school wrestling team and was studying business at Cleveland State University. He worked at his family’s restaurant in the Westfield Great Northern Mall food court. Mall officials and restaurant patrons all described him as a “good kid” who was always helpful. Touma is still attending Bay High School, where he plays lacrosse.

Police began their investigation late Monday after receiving a report of an accident where a truck hit a tree. When they arrived, they found the two teenage victims. Police said they were told the two were in the truck when a man approached the car and asked for a light.

Shafik then tossed a lighter over the top of the truck and the man told them to roll down the window, then he opened fire, hitting both youngsters. Police said Shafik apparently tried to drive away but crashed the truck into a tree at West 83rd Street. Police found a gun near the scene during the investigation and were running checks to see if it may have been involved in the incident.