The family of Hisham Abugharbieh repeatedly warned police about his violent behavior before he allegedly murdered two University of South Florida doctoral students, his younger brother told CBS News. Ahmad Abugharbieh, 22, said his family feels "so much shame and guilt" over the deaths of roommate Zamil Limon, 27, and Nahida Bristy, 27.

"I didn't know he had a roommate," Ahmad Abugharbieh said of his 26-year-old brother. "He should've lived on his own or been homeless." The suspect faces two first-degree murder charges after authorities found Limon's body Friday and human remains Sunday near Tampa's Howard Frankland Bridge while searching for Bristy.

The family had filed two protective orders against Hisham Abugharbieh — one granted in 2023 and another denied in 2025, according to court records. Ahmad Abugharbieh said he dropped potential battery charges against his brother in 2023 due to financial concerns. "I dropped them because I thought it was going to cost me a lot of money," he said. "I regretted that choice immediately after."

In the 2023 protective order obtained by CBS News, Ahmad wrote that his brother "repeatedly punched me in the head, he ripped my shirt and made me bleed and gave me a few bruises." A judge denied the 2025 protective order request because battery charges were not pursued. The brothers had been estranged since 2023, court records show.

The deadly weekend began when Hisham Abugharbieh showed up at the family home Friday morning. Ahmad called police to remove him, describing his brother's behavior as "very weird." According to an arrest report, the suspect's younger sister found him in the living room playing video games wearing only a towel. "The defendant was attempting to kiss the victim," the report states. "The victim was able to push away."

Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies arrested Hisham Abugharbieh in dramatic fashion Friday. He emerged with his hands up, still wearing only a towel. He remains held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. Both victims were 27-year-old doctoral students at the University of South Florida.

Ahmad Abugharbieh delivered an emotional message to the victims' families: "I just can't stop thinking about all of them. I'm just, I just feel so awful. I'm really sorry about everything. I feel so, my entire family feels so much shame and guilt." The case raises questions about whether more aggressive intervention could have prevented the tragedy, as the family's warnings about the suspect's escalating violence went largely unheeded by the system.