A shocking murder-for-hire case has rocked Los Angeles, where the ex-wife of a well-known doctor is now facing murder charges. Prosecutors believe Ahang Mirshojae, 53, planned the fatal shooting of her ex-husband, Dr. Hamid Mirshojae, outside his medical clinic in Woodland Hills.
The chilling incident happened on August 23, when Dr. Mirshojae, 61, was leaving his clinic on Topanga Canyon Boulevard, near Warner Center Park. As he walked to his car around 5:30 p.m., a masked man suddenly appeared, ran up to him, and shot him at close range in what police are calling an “ambush-style attack.” The shooter quickly fled the scene, leaving behind a community in shock and grief.
Authorities say this murder was carefully planned, and the doctor’s ex-wife allegedly hired a hitman to carry it out. The case has now led to charges against four people, each with a different role in the crime.
Ahang Mirshojae, who was arrested during a police raid on a luxurious mansion in Calabasas, is being charged with murder, along with special allegations of “lying in wait” and “murder for financial gain.” She’s also facing a separate charge for allegedly being involved in a baseball bat attack against Dr. Mirshojae earlier this year on May 3.
The alleged hitman, Evan Hardman, 41, was arrested last week in Tomball, Texas, by deputies from the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. Hardman is facing murder charges with multiple allegations, including lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and personally firing the weapon. On top of that, prosecutors revealed he has a long history of robbery convictions in Los Angeles County dating back to 2002. Police say after the shooting, Hardman met up with another defendant, Sarallah Jawed, who helped him escape to Texas.
Jawed, 26, from Canoga Park, has also been charged with murder and assault for his alleged involvement in the baseball bat attack. He remains in jail without bail. His arraignment, which was originally scheduled for this week, has been delayed to January 6.
A fourth person, Ashley Rose Sweeting, 40, of Reseda, is accused of helping the shooter get to and from the crime scene. Prosecutors described her role as driving Hardman on the day of the murder. Sweeting, who has prior convictions for burglary and theft, pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact. She remains in jail on $1 million bail and is due back in court on December 24.
During a press conference, District Attorney Nathan Hochman explained that Hardman was hired to carry out the killing. Afterward, Jawed allegedly stepped in to help Hardman flee to Texas. The case, prosecutors say, “appears to be a murder-for-hire plot.”
Dr. Mirshojae’s tragic death has sent shockwaves through the community. Police continue to investigate the connections between the suspects and the victim, looking into how they knew each other and what exactly led to the deadly plan.
While four arrests have been made, detectives believe there may still be more details to uncover as the investigation is ongoing.