Teen Stabbed in the Back of the Head in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At approximately 6:59 p.m. on July 20, 2026, the Missoula Police Department received a dispatch to Planet Fitness for a report of an assault with a weapon. Dispatch notes advised a kid had been stabbed in the back of the head and had controlled bleeding. Notes further advised the victim knew who the suspect was and that the suspect had departed the scene in a green minivan.

Officers arrived on scene and located the victim,16-year-old John Doe, inside Planet Fitness. An officer noticed employees holding a bandage to the back of Doe's head. The officer observed blood on Doe's neck, examined the back of his head, and immediately noted matted blood, obvious swelling, and what appeared to be a small laceration. Medical personnel arrived shortly after. 

The officer spoke with several witnesses who observed Doe and the suspect, later identified as Hussein Al-Ali, in a physical altercation in the parking lot. They saw Doe running away from Hussein and screaming for help. 

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The Altercation: How the Conflict Unfolded

The officer spoke with Doe further at the Hospital. Doe said he arrived at Planet Fitness for a workout. He parked in the parking lot and exited his vehicle to proceed inside. As he exited his vehicle, Hussein arrived in the green minivan and blocked his vehicle in its stall.  

He said Hussein exited his vehicle and immediately began punching him. Doe stated he attempted to get away and then eventually fought back. He advised that during the altercation, he heard a "click", which he recognized as the sound of a knife being opened. He stated he did not observe the knife at this moment but knew from the sound that a knife had been introduced.  

Hussein again attacked Doe and attempted to stab him in the midsection. Doe stated he was able to deflect the attack with his hand, resulting in a minor puncture wound to his midsection. The officer then noted a small laceration on the outside edge of Doe's left hand, which he stated he suffered as he deflected the knife.

Following this, Doe again ran from Hussein while yelling for help. Hussein chased him and began striking him in the back of the head with the knife, resulting in the laceration the officer observed earlier. After this, Doe stated he struck Hussein in the head with his water bottle, causing it to break.

Hussein continued to come after him with the knife. Doe stated he then produced his own knife he had been carrying and attempted to defend himself against Hussein. Doe stated that once Hussein observed that Doe was armed, he broke away from Doe and ran back to his vehicle.

Understanding the Relationship: A Troubling History

The officer asked Doe how he knew Hussein. He stated he knew him as a coworker, advising that they had worked at the same job together briefly. The officer asked if he knew why Hussein would suddenly attack him, seemingly without provocation. He stated he did not know. He advised Hussein was yelling things at him during the assault, but he could not recall what was being said. 

Hussein spoke with law enforcement and stated that Doe has a history of being racist against him and had been harassing Hussein’s current girlfriend, who is Doe’s ex. Hussein stated he had gotten out of his vehicle to talk to Doe, and Doe had started yelling and swearing at him and hitting him in the head with a water bottle ten times. Doe then took out a knife, which Hussein tried to take from him. When asked whether Doe would have been injured, Hussein stated that he didn’t know.

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports 

Hussein was arrested and transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony aggravated assault involving the use of a dangerous weapon.  

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.