Suspected Drag Racer Is Arrested

Fountain Valley police have arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of street racing and causing a collision that killed a 10-year-old girl, officials said Thursday. They are also seeking a second suspect.

Ahmed Shakir Dakhil of Anaheim was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree murder and reckless driving. He was being held at Orange County Jail without bail.

“Mr. Dakhil’s driving was the cause” of the girl’s death, Fountain Valley Police Chief Paul Sorrell said at a news conference Thursday.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Carter Saleh Hasan, 27, of Fountain Valley, who allegedly was racing against Dakhil. He faces a manslaughter charge.

On April 25, Kylee McGowen of Anaheim was in her aunt’s Ford Mustang, which was making a left turn on Brookhurst Street at Heil Avenue. The cars were racing on Brookhurst, and Dakhil slammed into the Mustang, authorities said. The Mustang struck a tree, and Kylee died instantly.

Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free the driver and two other passengers, who were seriously injured. Dakhil suffered a broken nose. He was not arrested at the time.

Hasan fled the scene, police said.

Sorrell said he sought murder charges against Dakhil because of his “history of aggravated traffic violations.”

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, Dakhil was convicted of speeding four times in 2002-03.

Dakhil is scheduled to be arraigned today at West Justice Center in Westminster.