A Pennsylvania teacher tragically lost her life in a targeted murder-for-hire plot, orchestrated by her boyfriend’s ex-lover, while her 11-year-old son witnessed the crime.
Last month, 35-year-old Rachel King was fatally shot in her car while waiting in a Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru lane.
On April 26, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office announced the arrests of 33-year-old Zakkee Alhakim and 34-year-old Julie Jean in connection with King’s murder. Both face charges of first and third-degree murder, conspiracy, and other offenses.
The incident occurred on April 11 at approximately 7:30 a.m., when Alhakim opened fire on King as her son sat in the backseat of her car.
Authorities uncovered that Jean had been plotting King’s murder for months and enlisted Alhakim’s help. Jean’s motive was her previous romantic relationship with King’s boyfriend, William Hayes, which ended last year. Jean allegedly continued to harass the couple through texts and phone calls even after the relationship ended, leading Hayes to obtain a protection order against her.
Investigators found evidence, such as a photo collage of King and a Google map screenshot of her apartment, on Alhakim’s phone. They also discovered that Jean and Alhakim had been in contact and met several times leading up to the murder.
Authorities learned that, just minutes before her police interview on April 12, Jean deleted nearly 800 text messages she had exchanged with Alhakim. Surveillance footage linked the two suspects to a silver Mercury Sable spotted at the crime scene and near King’s home before her death.
On the day of the shooting, Alhakim parked the sedan outside the Dunkin’ Donuts, approached King’s car, and fired multiple shots through the driver’s side window before fleeing the scene. Police found six spent cartridge casings at the site.
Both Alhakim and Jean are in custody and bail has been denied.
