tad.dickens@roanoke.com 981-3236

A man whose disagreement with his former landlord over a $575 security deposit precipitated a fatal shooting in Roanoke County pleaded no contest on Tuesday to charges of murder and using a firearm.

Muhammed Majeed, 24, confessed to police - first in a 911 call the day of the July 8 shooting, and later in a statement - that he shot Christopher Hanes, 42, in Hanes' home on Larson Lane over the disputed deposit.

Roanoke County Circuit Judge Robert "Pat" Doherty convicted Majeed, who could face up to life plus three years in prison on the charges.

"We had him and he just didn't want to go to a jury," Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Leach said after the hearing. "And that's all there is to it."

David Lawrence, one of Majeed's attorneys, said his client's situation is complicated, and his sentencing hearing will seem more like a trial, with testimony about psychological problems. Majeed has been kind and straightforward in their meetings, Lawrence said, but ever since he came to the United States from Pakistan, he has had a difficult time establishing himself.

"I know he regrets very much what happened," Lawrence said.

Police first learned something was wrong at the Larson Lane house when they received a 911 hang-up call. A 911 dispatcher called the number, and Majeed answered, testified Roanoke County police Sgt. Brett Altimore, who took the stand to provide a summary of the evidence.

"Mr. Majeed stated that he'd just killed a man," Altimore said. "He said he'd shot Hanes three to four times, one time in the head. He stated that he did it because he, Hanes, owed him money."

Majeed called 911 again about 10 minutes later, Altimore told the court. He asked what was taking so long for police to arrive.

"He again stated that he'd just shot a man, come and arrest him," Altimore said.

Real estate records show that Majeed had lived at 837 Welton Ave. S.W. in Roanoke, in a duplex that Hanes owned. He moved about a month before the shooting. Testimony in Tuesday's hearing showed that his two brothers also lived in the duplex.

Lawrence, the defense attorney, said after the hearing that Majeed thought a substantial portion of the security deposit would be returned, and had contacted Hanes three times about the matter. The third time, he came to Hanes' house.

Hanes' wife, Jill, answered the door, then left the two men alone, Altimore said. She told police later that she didn't hear any arguments, but heard several popping sounds that went off quickly.

When Jill Hanes came out of the master bedroom, she saw their young son standing near her husband's body. She worried not only about her husband but also about the boy's safety, Altimore said. Jill Hanes pleaded with Majeed not to hurt her son, the detective testified.

"He said, 'Your son had nothing to do with this,'" Altimore told the court.

She took her children and went to a neighboring house, where she also made a phone call for help. Police arrived and got Majeed to leave the house. He left behind a semiautomatic .40-caliber pistol.

When police walked inside the house, they found Hanes' body, with documents lying near him. These included bills for cleaning, supplies and a steam cleaner - Hanes had deducted them from the deposit. Under an arm was an envelope, which Hanes had used to do some subtraction and show Majeed why he did not believe that Majeed should get back the money, lawyers in the case said.

Majeed later told police that as he and Hanes discussed the situation, he felt a building anger.

"The last thing he said he could remember was hearing that he was not going to get the money," Altimore said. "The next thing he remembered, he was holding the gun in his hand, and Mr. Hanes was lying on the floor."

According to Altimore, Hanes had been shot about seven times, including a shot to the back of the head from about a foot away.