Who killed Iranian activist Gelareh Bagherzadeh?

[ClarkLZeuss]

This shooting happened back in January, so I'm a bit behind in posting it (but I also haven't been active on this board in a while). I did not know Gelareh directly, but we had many mutual friends. Her death was a shock and is still an unsolved murder.

On the evening of Jan. 15, Gelareh Bagherzadeh drove to a classmate's house in nearby Spring, Texas, to study. Her mother called her around 11:15 p.m. to ask her whereabouts. Bagherzadeh said she was on her way home. Usually bubbly and energetic, Gelareh sounded uncharacteristically calm, Monireh Bagherzadeh says.

Houston police received a call 30 minutes later of shots fired in the complex of the two-story townhouse where Bagherzadeh lived. Officers found her slumped over the steering wheel of her car outside a nearby garage door, the car's front wheels still spinning, says Padilla, the investigator in the case. Her assailant fired four shots through the passenger-side window. One of them struck Bagherzadeh in the head, killing her instantly, he says. Her purse, jewelry, iPhone and wallet full of credit cards were left untouched in the car.

"Somebody was waiting for her," Ebrahim Bagherzadeh says. "They had a plan for her."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/sto ... 55752202/1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Over the summer, Crimestoppers increased the reward they're offering, now up to $200,000 for information leading to her killer's arrest.

[philip964]

Interesting that the reward has not uncovered any leads. Normally a common criminal will tell others of his exploits. Who for just 2k will rat out his friend. Here it is 200k.

This leads me to believe it was not a common criminal and therefore not random violence. Thus if it was not random violence by a common criminal, was it a targeted killing. If so by whom? A love triangle. A coworker trying to pave the way for their advancement. Normally the police can ferret out these sorts of situations through interviews.

Or as I suspect, an assassination by a Iranian government agent.

Right here in Houston.

[ClarkLZeuss]

Interesting that the reward has not uncovered any leads. Normally a common criminal will tell others of his exploits. Who for just 2k will rat out his friend. Here it is 200k.

This leads me to believe it was not a common criminal and therefore not random violence. Thus if it was not random violence by a common criminal, was it a targeted killing. If so by whom? A love triangle. A coworker trying to pave the way for their advancement. Normally the police can ferret out these sorts of situations through interviews.

Or as I suspect, an assassination by a Iranian government agent.

Right here in Houston.

This is what I'm inclined to believe as well. Especially because nothing was taken from her car. And she was shot - in the head - while her car was moving through her townhouse's parking lot. That kind of accuracy speaks of professionalism; I don't think a jaded lover would have that level of skill. I think her political activism and conversion to Christianity has a lot to do with the "why" of her murder.

[The Annoyed Man]

There was a guy arrested here in Texas about a year or so ago who was an assassin/spy from a middle eastern country which I recall as Iran. I don't really remember specific details, but I seem to recall that he was targeting "westernized" (read that as politically unsympathetic to his cause) immigrants from his country.

I'll try to see if I can't find an article about it.

[RHenriksen]

There was a guy arrested here in Texas about a year or so ago who was an assassin/spy from a middle eastern country which I recall as Iran. I don't really remember specific details, but I seem to recall that he was targeting "westernized" (read that as politically unsympathetic to his cause) immigrants from his country.

I'll try to see if I can't find an article about it.

I'd be interested to read that - hadn't heard about it.

[ClarkLZeuss]

There was a guy arrested here in Texas about a year or so ago who was an assassin/spy from a middle eastern country which I recall as Iran. I don't really remember specific details, but I seem to recall that he was targeting "westernized" (read that as politically unsympathetic to his cause) immigrants from his country.

I'll try to see if I can't find an article about it.

TAM would this be a different case than the Iranian operative who was arrested here after plotting to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador?

[The Annoyed Man]

There was a guy arrested here in Texas about a year or so ago who was an assassin/spy from a middle eastern country which I recall as Iran. I don't really remember specific details, but I seem to recall that he was targeting "westernized" (read that as politically unsympathetic to his cause) immigrants from his country.

I'll try to see if I can't find an article about it.

TAM would this be a different case than the Iranian operative who was arrested here after plotting to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador?

Yeah, I think that is the one. I tried searching for articles yesterday, but my google fu was not strong at the time.

[baldeagle]

Here you go: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-1 ... ry-1-.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;