A man and a woman are now in custody in Pennsylvania in connection with the violent death of a beloved teacher. Police have arrested Zakkee Alhakim, 33, and Julie Jean, 34, and charged them with the brutal murder of Rachel King, 35, who was killed April 11 in a Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru in Cheltenham.
Investigators believe the attack was intentional and may be part of a months-long murder-for-hire plot. Jean was reportedly involved in an affair with King's boyfriend, William Hayes, and when he broke it off with Jean, she was unhappy. In the months following the breakup, Jean reportedly continued to contact the couple while investigators believe she was planning the murder.
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The brazen attack happened in broad daylight.
Alhakim allegedly followed King closely in a silver Mercury sedan and parked nearby while King went through the Dunkin' drive-thru lane around 7:30 a.m. April 11. After parking his car, Alhakim got out and approached King's Ford Edge on the driver's side window, according to a press release from the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. He allegedly shot multiple rounds into the car while King's 11-year-old son, Jalen, sat in the back. The boy was not physically harmed.
"This appears to be a targeted murder of a mother. The Black male did not attempt to open the victim's vehicle door, nor did he appear to communicate with her prior to shooting her numerous times through her driver's side window," noted District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, according to the press release. "Anyone with information about this vehicle or the driver is asked to call police and help us find whoever committed this heinous murder."
Jealously apparently prompted the killing.
Investigators now believe Jean planned to kill King because she was jealous of the woman's relationship with Hayes, her former lover. The DA's office reported that even after the relationship with Hayes ended, Jean could not move on.
"The joint investigation found that Alhakim and Jean planned and conspired to murder King, who was the longtime girlfriend of William Hayes. Jean and Hayes had had an affair last year, and after Hayes broke it off, Jean continued to text, call and harass both King and Hayes, prompting Hayes to obtain a Protection From Abuse Order against Jean," the press release from the DA's office reads.
A relative introduced Jean and Alkahim.
The DA's office said the father of Jean's children is Alkahim's cousin. Phone records show that Jean added Alkahim to her phone's address book in February under the name "Zah." The two reportedly communicated frequently, and shortly after connecting, Alkahim saved a Google Maps photo of King's apartment complex to his phone. He also allegedly put a pin on her exact apartment and marked a path to the complex in red, and several photos of the victim were saved, according to the DA's press release.
The car linked the pair to the crime.
According to the DA, surveillance video showed that Alkahim drove the vehicle to Lynnewood Gardens apartments, where King lived, just days before she was killed and watched her. The car appeared on surveillance again on the day of the reported attack.
"Alhakim obtained the vehicle on March 30, 2023, less than two weeks before the murder, when Alhakim and Jean went together to buy it at a shop on 61st Street in Philadelphia. The vehicle was purchased in Julie Jean's name," the press release states.
Police spotted the vehicle later in the day on April 11, as it appeared to be used during King's death. The same car was wanted in an additional murder on April 7 in Philadelphia.
The pair tried to erase their tracks.
The DA's office reported that just before an interview with police on April 12, Jean erased nearly 800 text messages between herself and Alkahim.
"Many of those communications were able to be recovered by law enforcement, including the last message that Jean sent to Alhakim, which was sent through CashApp at 12:11 pm on the day of the murder, April 11, 2023. It was a payment of $5, with the emoji message that is interpreted to mean "link up, message me, no phones, that's it," the DA's released reads.
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King was a devoted teacher.
According to a GoFundMe page set up to help Jalen, King taught for more than a decade at Grover Cleveland Elementary School.
"Her loss has left a deep void in the lives of her family, friends, colleagues and students," the fundraiser reads. So far, more than $100,000 has been raised.
"This story truly hits home. As a single mom, that has a similar routine, in the same township, with a daughter Jalen's age going to morning music practice. I actually got a call that morning to ensure it wasn't me. My heart aches for Jalen and this family. Blessings to you all," a donor wrote.
"Ms. King was more than a teacher, she was a Friend. She was my oldest son Nasir's teacher and was there for me when he passed on 4/26/22. she has been my daughter Thalia's teacher and she loves and misses you so much," another donor shared. "We are keeping Jaylen and the King family in our pra[y]ers. I know what's it like to lose a child and sibling but a mother I pray for you baby boy."
Police arrested Jean on charges of first-degree murder, third-degree murder, and conspiracy. She is being held in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, the DA's release notes.
Alhakim was charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, conspiracy, and possessing an instrument of crime and is awaiting arraignment on the Montgomery County charges. He is in custody at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia.
