"A 32-year-old woman was critically injured and not expected to survive after an assault in her El Cajon home on Wednesday, police said Friday, and a threatening note telling the mother of five to go back to her home country was found near her, a family friend said. The woman's 17-year-old daughter found her unconscious in the dining room of the house on Skyview Street off Lemon Avenue about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, said El Cajon police Lt. Steve Shakowski. Police identified her as Shaima Alawadi.
"Based on the type of injuries Alawadi sustained, and other evidence retrieved at the scene, this case is being investigated as a homicide," Shakowski said. Police did not disclose the contents of the note. Sura Alzaidy, a family friend, said it told the family to "go back to your own country. You're a terrorist." The family is from Iraq, and Alawadi is a "respectful modest muhajiba," meaning she wears the traditional hijab, a head scarf, Alzaidy said. El Cajon police Lt. Mark Coit said the family stated they had found a similar note earlier this month, however did not report it to authorities. The daughter who found her mother told KUSI Channel 9/51 on Friday night that her mother had been beaten on the head repeatedly with a tire iron. She said her mother had dismissed the previous note, found outside the house, thinking it was a child's prank." (thanks Farah)
"Based on the type of injuries Alawadi sustained, and other evidence retrieved at the scene, this case is being investigated as a homicide," Shakowski said. Police did not disclose the contents of the note. Sura Alzaidy, a family friend, said it told the family to "go back to your own country. You're a terrorist." The family is from Iraq, and Alawadi is a "respectful modest muhajiba," meaning she wears the traditional hijab, a head scarf, Alzaidy said. El Cajon police Lt. Mark Coit said the family stated they had found a similar note earlier this month, however did not report it to authorities. The daughter who found her mother told KUSI Channel 9/51 on Friday night that her mother had been beaten on the head repeatedly with a tire iron. She said her mother had dismissed the previous note, found outside the house, thinking it was a child's prank." (thanks Farah)
