April 3, 2019

Action Alert:
Tell Prosecuting Attorney to Drop Charges Against Egyptian Man


Update: The mother in this incident, Santana Adams, was arrested on April 5, 2019 and charged with falsely reporting an emergency incident. All charges against Mohamed Fathy Hussein Zayan have been dropped. Adams’ bond was set at $20,000. She faces a fine and up to six months in jail if convicted. Apparently, Adams never brandished the .9mm handgun she was carrying in her front pocket that evening. Surveillance video shows her and Zayan leaving the store calmly 35 seconds apart. Thanks to all who contacted prosecuting attorney Corky Hammers!


On April 1, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.,  a woman and her 5 year-old daughter were shopping at Old Navy in Huntington Mall in Barboursville, West Virginia. There they encountered Mohamed Fathy Hussein Zayan, a 54 year-old engineer from Alexandria, Egypt. Something caused Zayan to pat the little girl on the head, and when he did the mother pulled a loaded handgun on him and threatened to shoot.

The Old Navy store in Huntington Mall in Barboursville, West Virginia

A stunned Zayan was arrested at the scene. The mother told Barboursville Police that he grabbed her daughter by the hair and was dragging her away along the ground. She said she drew her gun to stop a kidnapping in progress. Zayan was charged with attempting to commit a felony and bail was set at $200,000.

The following day the mother admitted her original story was a lie. Now she tells police that Zayan’s pat led to a “cultural misunderstanding.” He was released on reduced bond and enjoyed a tearful reunion with family members outside the jail. But he is still facing charges of battery and attempted abduction filed by Cabell County Prosecuting Attorney Corky Hammers. The mother currently faces no charges for lying to police or endangering Zayan’s life (and the lives of others in the store) by leveling a loaded gun at him.

Please contact Cabell County Prosecuting Attorney Corky Hammers and give him the following message, personalized to your liking:

Corky, you need to drop the attempted abduction charge and all remaining charges against Mohamed Fathy Hussein Zayan immediately. This is absolutely ridiculous and you know it. And you’re going to allow this mother to lie to police after pointing a loaded gun at this man for no reason? She not only put Mr. Zayan’s life at unnecessary risk that day. She also needlessly endangered the lives of everyone in the Old Navy store. I’m sorry, Corky. Xenophobia is not a legitimate reason to pull a gun on someone. Drop the charges against Mr. Zayan and bring charges against this mother for brandishing.  That’s exactly what you would do if you were legitimately concerned about promoting public safety in this county. incompetent, paranoid gun-toters don’t make ANYONE safe, Corky. I’ll be watching this case VERY closely and I vote. 

Cabell County Prosecuting Attorney Sean “Corky” Hammers
Phone: (304) 526-8653
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CabellCountyProsecutor/

Once you have contacted Corky Hammers, fill out the three fields below and click the orange banner to report taking action!


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