26-year-old Abu Gharbiyeh was taken into custody in Tampa after police responded to a domestic violence call at a residence associated with him. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, he initially barricaded himself inside the home before surrendering to the SWAT team after the standoff.Authorities say Abu Gharbia’s roommate was Zamil Limon, one of two students reported missing earlier this month along with Nahida Bristi, both 27 and originally from Bangladesh.
Lemon’s remains were later found on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa Bay, while Presti remains missing.Abu Gharbiyeh is charged with preliminary charges, including domestic violence battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, and unlawful transportation or handling of a corpse, law enforcement officials said.Investigators said the case began to unfold after a family friend reported the two students missing when they could not be contacted.
Lemmon and Presti were last seen on April 16 at two separate locations near the University of South Florida campus.Deputies later focused their attention on Abu Gharbiyah after tracing links to the missing students. Police said he was not a student at the University of South Florida but lived with Lemon in an off-campus apartment.Authorities have not confirmed the motive. They also said the investigation expanded across multiple jurisdictions as investigators searched areas surrounding Tampa and neighboring counties.
Law enforcement agencies described the case as complex and ongoing.During the arrest, police said they had to activate specialized units, including the Rapid Intervention Team, after Abu Gharbiyeh refused initial orders to leave the house. He was eventually detained.The case remains active, with multiple preliminary charges still pending and more forensic results expected to emerge as authorities continue to piece together what happened in the days leading up to the students’ disappearance.
