Ali Abulaban had built his fame on TikTok by impersonating Tony Montana, the protagonist of ‘Scarface’. In October 2021, that same on-screen persona was behind a double murder in a high-rise building in East Village, San Diego, California.
The victims were his estranged wife, Ana, and one of her friends. The couple, both in their twenties, had a young daughter and shared parts of their lives as social media content creators. The crimes led to a formal indictment against Ali.
After the trial, he was sentenced to life in prison on September 6, 2024. At the hearing, he asked the judge for mercy and said that being sent to prison forever felt like being sent to hell. His statement during the proceedings, in which he said “I’m shooting and I can’t stop”, made headlines in coverage of the case. Today, according to a recent source, he is seeking a new trial through an appeal.
Peacock released the documentary ‘TikTok Star Murders’ about the case in June 2024.
