The widow of a California doctor who was shot dead outside his clinic in 2024 has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against the doctor’s former spouse, who is currently imprisoned awaiting trial related to the death.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Hamid Mirshojae’s widow, Ghazal Simorgh, and their young child, also names four additional individuals linked to the August 23, 2024, murder, alleging the ex-wife, Ahang Mirshojae, attempts to conceal assets from the lawsuit, as reported by KNBC.
“This was not fair for my 1-year-old baby — to lose her dad at a very young age,” Simorgh said.
Charged in connection with the 61-year-old doctor’s killing besides Mirshojae, 53, are 41-year-old Evan Hardman, 26-year-old Sarallah Jawed, 46-year-old Shawn Randolph, and 40-year-old Ashley Rose Sweeting, as stated by KABC. Hardman stands accused of being the shooter, while the others are suspected of providing weapons and aiding his escape. Ahang Mirshojae is alleged to be the brains behind the operation.
Additionally, Hardman and Jawed are charged in a baseball bat attack on the doctor in May 2024.
KTLA reports that Hardman allegedly shot Mirshojae from behind as Sweeting drove him to and from the crime scene. Jawed is accused of facilitating the murder and subsequently taking Hardman out of state. Randolph is suspected of supplying the untraceable gun used in the crime.
Mirshojae was shot in a parking lot while walking from his urgent care clinic to his vehicle as the business day ended. Prosecutors state that his ex-wife harbored resentment and animosity, witnessing him moving forward in life 15 years after their acrimonious divorce.
According to a report from CrimeOnline, Mirshojae cited “physical violence” when he sought a restraining order against Ahang Mirshojae during the commencement of divorce proceedings in 2009. Although the legal battles persisted for years, Mirshojae kept his former wife in charge of his clinic’s office until he discovered her embezzling funds in 2016.
Attorneys for Simorgh told KABC they believe the ex-wife is wrangling to hide as much property as possible.
“We are seeking to possibly unwind some financial transactions that the ex-wife engaged in in connection with the murder-for-hire plot,” said Alex Guerrero. “We do believe that there’s been assets that have been hidden and/or moved to avoid any kind of civil forfeiture.”
All five co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to their various charges.
