DES MOINES, IA – A teenager from Des Moines has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison after admitting to fatally stabbing his 19-year-old brother earlier this year, court records show.
Polk County District Court Judge Joseph Seidlin issued the prison term Wednesday for Mohamed Mutaz Elzubeir, now 17. Elzubeir pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the June death of his older brother, Abdelmagid “Majet” Elzubeir, following a plea agreement with prosecutors.
The fatal incident took place on June 11 at the family’s home in the 900 block of Oakridge Drive, authorities said. Officers responded that evening after a call reported a stabbing at the residence. When police arrived, they discovered the older brother with a severe stab wound to his neck.
First responders rushed the victim to UnityPoint Methodist Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries. Shortly after, Mohamed Elzubeir, then 16, was taken into custody.
Investigators say Mohamed told authorities he had grown tired of being bullied and “picked on” by his older brother. According to court documents, he admitted to stabbing his sibling with a kitchen knife during an altercation in their home.
While the original charge had been first-degree murder, prosecutors and the defense reached an agreement allowing Elzubeir to plead guilty to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter. Under Iowa’s sentencing laws, this charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
During the court hearing, Judge Seidlin highlighted a difficult history for Elzubeir, referencing prior struggles with managing behavior and a traumatic brain injury he sustained in a car crash in 2021. The judge noted that medical records and testimony suggested the injury had worsened Elzubeir’s behavioral issues.
Seidlin said that, despite his young age — Elzubeir turns 18 next month — the serious nature of the crime and his ongoing behavioral problems warranted incarceration. Both prosecutors and defense attorneys supported a prison sentence as the appropriate outcome.
In addressing the court, Elzubeir expressed remorse for his actions, reportedly stating multiple times that he was responsible for his brother’s death and describing the events that led up to the stabbing. He admitted to stabbing Abdelmagid during a heated confrontation, telling the court that years of being bullied pushed him to react violently after being screamed at and pushed.
The judge noted that prison would provide Elzubeir with a structured environment for rehabilitation, while also ensuring public safety. Elzubeir will serve his sentence in a state correctional facility, with the possibility of parole dependent on his conduct and progress.
No other family members were reported injured during the incident. The case has drawn attention to the challenges of addressing mental health and behavioral issues among juveniles within the justice system.
Elzubeir will remain in custody to begin serving his prison term immediately.