Burlington gang member sentenced to 5–7 years; faces murder trial in January

Burlington gang member sentenced to 5–7 years; faces murder trial in January

Key Facts:

• Defendant: Abdiaziz “Drill” Abdhikadir, 22, of Intervale Avenue, Burlington.

  • Also known as Abdi Abdi or Abdi Kadir.

  • Associated with a juvenile gang in Burlington.

  • Described by authorities as a symbol of systemic failures in Vermont’s juvenile justice system.

• Conviction:

  • Pleaded no contest to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

  • Sentence: 5 to 7 years in prison.

  • Incident: On Feb. 12, 2022, he fired 9 rounds into an occupied apartment at 669 Riverside Avenue.

    • 8 people were inside, but no injuries occurred.

    • The apartment belonged to the Mubarak family.

• Pending Murder Trial:

  • Victim: Hussein Mubarak, 21 (related to the Riverside Ave. shooting victim family).

  • Date of shooting: July 7, 2022.

  • Location: Near Luck Street & Intervale Avenue.

  • Charge: Murder.

  • Trial Date: Set for January 12, expected to last 2½ weeks.

• Criminal History:

  • Between 2013–2022, Abdhikadir was arrested 23 times.

  • Involved in: assaults, burglary, felony domestic, DUI, robberies, stolen property/vehicles, court violations.

  • Police say he was a “person of interest” or “suspect” in 34 additional cases.

  • Escaped from juvenile detention in 2020.

• Comments:

  • Prosecutor Sarah George: Mubarak family supports plea deal; it brings “some closure”.

  • Defense Attorney Jessica Burke: Client refrained from detailed comment due to pending homicide trial.

  • Governor Phil Scott: Has opposed raising the age for Youthful Offender status in Vermont.

• Additional Note:

  • Mubarak may be one of 6–7 individuals with drug-related records who were killed by gunfire in Vermont in a 6-month period in 2022, per Vermont Daily Chronicle.