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Zakkee Steven Alhakim, 34, of Philadelphia, and Julie Jean, 34, of Elkins Park, are each charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, and conspiracy in the April 11 death of 35-year-old Rachel King, said District Attorney Kevin Steele in a release.
King was shot dead in her car at the Melrose Shopping Center on Cheltenham Avenue with her 11-year-old son in the back seat, Daily Voice has reported.
Investigators now say that King was the longtime girlfriend of William Hayes, with whom Jean "had had an affair last year." Hayes broke off the relationship with Jean, but she continued to call and text him and King, prompting Hayes to seek a protection from abuse order against his ex, authorities said.
Jean began corresponding with Alhakim, the cousin of her children's father, sometime in February, the DA's Office said. Around that time, police believe Jean showed Alhakim photos of King, as well as a detailed Google Maps image of King's home and the surrounding area.
Police investigators also said that, around two weeks before the murder on March 30, Alhakim and Jean bought a Mercury Sable together from a lot in Philadelphia. That same Sable, the DA's Office said, was seen in surveillance footage fleeing the scene of the murder and following King around in the days before.
Detectives also believe that Jean deleted 787 text messages with Alhakim just before her interview with police on April 12.
In addition to the murder and conspiracy charges, Alhakim is accused of possessing an instrument of crime. Investigators say the ballistic evidence from King's murder and another Philadelphia killing on April 7 both appear to have come from a privately-manufactured firearm, or "ghost gun."
A photo of a "ghost gun" was discovered by police in Alhakim's cell phone, the DA's Office claimed.
“This cold-blooded killing of Rachel King was a targeted murder of an innocent person, planned by these two defendants and horrifically carried out in front of King’s son,” DA Steele said.
“It is a tragic killing of a good person, all because of an ended affair.”
Both suspects are in custody. Jean was arraigned on Tuesday, April 25, and awaits her preliminary hearing on May 5 without bail, officials said, while Alhakim is yet to be arraigned as of Wednesday afternoon.
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