Ali Abulaban, a TikTok star from San Diego, is currently on trial for the fatal shooting of his wife, Ana Abulaban, and her lover, Rayburn Barron. Ali testified during his trial that he found the pair in bed together and couldn’t stop shooting them after feeling betrayed by his wife’s actions. He expressed disbelief that Ana would cheat on him with Barron, who he had strong feelings towards. Ali claimed that he was struggling with drugs and mental illness at the time and was trying to fix his relationship with his wife before the betrayal occurred.
During his testimony, Ali described how he snapped when he saw Ana and Barron together, feeling like he was watching himself shoot them without being able to stop. He called 911 after the shooting in an attempt to get them help to save Ana. Following the murders, Ali coordinated with his family to pick up his daughter and find her a safe place to stay before turning himself in. He informed his daughter that he had hurt her mother and had to go away as a result of his actions.
According to prosecutors, Ana had asked Ali to move out three days before the shooting. He checked into a hotel but later returned to the apartment they shared and allegedly installed a recording device on his daughter’s iPad to catch Ana with Barron. When he heard them together on the recording, he went back to the apartment and shot Barron three times and Ana once in the head. Ali, who was known as JinnKid on TikTok, had a large following at the time of the alleged murders, with approximately 940,000 followers.
The defense argued that Ali’s actions were the result of a combination of drug use, mental illness, and the betrayal he felt from his wife. They claimed that he was not in control of his actions when he shot Ana and Barron. However, prosecutors alleged that Ali’s premeditated actions, including installing the recording device and returning to the apartment with a gun, showed a calculated plan to harm his wife and her lover. The trial will continue as both sides present evidence to support their arguments.
The tragic incident involving Ali Abulaban, his wife, and her lover has sparked a national conversation about domestic violence, mental health, and the use of social media for fame. While Ali was a popular figure on TikTok, his actions off-screen have led to a criminal trial and the loss of two lives. The outcome of the trial will determine whether Ali is held accountable for the deaths of Ana and Barron and what consequences he will face for his actions. It serves as a reminder of the complex and often devastating consequences of domestic disputes and the importance of seeking help for mental health issues before they escalate into violence.
