Former TikTok star sentenced in double murder

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Ali Abulaban, a former TikTok star who fatally shot his wife and another man in an East Village apartment, learned his fate Friday.

It was judgement day for former TikTok star Ali Abulaban, but not before one last ditch effort calling for a mistrial, which the judge shot down.

He was convicted of shooting and killing his wife, Ana Abulaban, and a man she was seeing, Rayburn Barron.

Abulaban was sentenced to a total prison term of 50 years to life plus two terms of life without the possibility of parole.

“The bottom line here is he will die in prison. He will never be a free man. He will take his last breath there,” Judge Jeffrey Fraser told the courtroom.

An unusual reaction as Abulaban responded to cheers from the gallery after the judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Judge Fraser continued, “He’s a very talented actor. When I saw the Scarface videos, it's as if when he committed these crimes he became that persona of Scarface, just that coldblooded killing without remorse. Any tears that he’s cried in this courtroom have been for himself, they are not for Ray and Ana, but as he sits here today I don’t know if he’s really sorry. I have serious reservations about that, but I know he's sorry about the consequences of going to prison for the rest of his life."

A jury of 12 found Abulaban guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in May. Abulaban had previously admitted to shooting and killing his wife, Ana Abulaban, and the man she was seeing, Rayburn Barron, in October 2021.

The judge said the 12 jurors made the right call in this case with convicting Ali of two counts of first-degree murder. Before Friday's sentencing, seven of Ana and Ray’s family members gave emotional statements to the judge, including Ana’s sister who saw her sister’s murderer face-to-face in the courtroom for the first time.

Ali had one last chance to speak before he was sent to prison for life. “I am so deeply sorry to each and every one of you who have suffered.”

And had a message to his daughter.

“When you’re old enough to see this, please don’t blame yourself, none of this is your fault. Your mom loved you so much.”

Nearly three years since the killings and Ana and Ray’s families say they are relieved.

“We knew it was going to be a good outcome, but this was the best, the best we could hope for, and we just thank god," Ana and Ray's families said.

Check back for updates on this developing story.