Family member a suspect: Imam killed in shooting outside mosque in Newark previously attacked

[Arheel's Uncle]

Imam killed in shooting outside mosque in Newark previously attacked

A community is confused and in mourning after the Imam of a mosque in Newark was shot and killed. Now, we're learning that this isn't the first time the imam was the victim of a violent incident.

abc7ny.com

Imam killed in shooting outside mosque in Newark previously attacked​

ByEyewitness News

Thursday, January 4, 2024 5:58PM

Anthony Johnson is live in Newark with the latest details.
WABC

NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- A community is confused and in mourning after the Imam of a mosque in Newark was shot and killed and it wasn't the first time the imam was the victim of a violent incident.
The investigation into the motive for the killing and the suspect continued overnight and into Thursday morning.
Masjid Muhammad shared a video of Imam Hassan Sharif. He was found by police Wednesday morning lying in the parking lot, just 10 feet from the entrance to the mosque.

John Del Giorno has the latest details on the shooting in Newark from NewsCopter 7.
It happened at 6:15 a.m. outside the mosque on South Orange Avenue and Camden Street.
Officials say he had multiple gunshot wounds and was brought to the hospital, where he eventually was pronounced dead.

Back in August, Sharif posted on Facebook that he was attacked on his way to morning prayers, but that time was able to get away.
Authorities say this shooting does not appear to be racially motivated, but community members are still fearful and the murder has touched off concerns across the state for religious leaders.
State leaders are trying to assure Muslim leaders and others that they will be safe.
"While there's no evidence this is a hate crime, whether it is or it isn't, it's an opportunity for us to condemn hate crimes of any kind, whether its islamophobia, antisemitism or any other hate crimes that have exploded of late, we condemn them in any and all forms, it is not who we are as a state," said Gov. Phil Murphy.
Those who knew Sharif, who also was a transportation safety officer at Newark Airport since 2006, say he believed in helping people, and that this mosque was even used as a "safe surrender" location giving fugitives a place to safely turn themselves in.

As for the investigation, police are looking into surveillance video from the area and are offering a $25,000 reward to anyone with information.
Officials say the motive also does not appear to be domestic terrorism.
"The impact on the community of this sort of particularly dastardly crime cannot be understated," said Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens.

Officials say an imam shot outside his mosque in Newark on Wednesday morning has died from his injuries.
People in the area blame this crime on the ongoing crisis of violence in the neighborhood.
"The crime in this area just has to stop," said Newark resident Paulette Williams. "It's ridiculous. I'm out of here. I'm moving to another state. I can't take anymore."

Daud Haqq, the president of the Tri-State Imams Council, is especially shaken by his friend's death.
"My heart is really hurting over him," said Haqq, before questioning the motive, "You're not afraid to attack an imam, how about the average Muslim?"
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens vowed to get some answers for the reeling community.
"It's not lost on us the particular impact on the Islamic community, we share your pain," said Stephens. "And we promise to utilize the full resources of those here, and those who are continuing to partner with us to we make sure that this heinous crime is solved."
Anyone with information is asked to call the Newark Police Department through their 24-hour tip hot line at 1-877-NWK TIPS (1-877-695-8477).

 

[Arheel's Uncle]

Imam Hassan Sharif

Newark imam killing: Cops eyeing a family member in 'dastardly' crime

Imam Hassan Sharif, a widely respected community leader, was shot dead outside the Masjid Muhammad mosque on the morning of Jan. 3.

www.nbcnews.com

Newark imam killing: Cops eyeing a family member in 'dastardly' crime​

Imam Hassan Sharif, a widely respected community leader, was shot dead outside the Masjid Muhammad mosque on the morning of Jan. 3.

Jan. 12, 2024, 8:38 AM MST
By Rich Schapiro, Tom Winter and Jonathan Dienst

Detectives are investigating whether a family member fatally shot a widely respected Newark imam, three law enforcement sources told NBC News, a killing that stunned the city and sparked fears of a hate crime.
Imam Hassan Sharif, 52, was in his car outside the Masjid Muhammad mosque on Jan. 3 when he was shot multiple times at about 6:15 a.m. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital at 2:20 p.m., authorities said.

The law enforcement sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an active investigation, said the probe was still in its preliminary stages. They provided no details about the family member's potential motive.
Investigators were seeking to determine whether the relative is the person who was captured on surveillance video riding away from the scene on a bicycle, one of the sources said.

Imam Hassan Sharif at Masjid Muhammed-Newark in 2023.Masjid Muhammad-Newark / Anadolu via Getty Images file
The killing prompted an outpouring of tributes from members of the mosque, community activists, religious leaders and government officials, including Gov. Phil Murphy. Sharif was remembered as a pillar of the community who worked to lift people out of poverty and reduce the city's high rate of violent crime.
“He was a community advocate who protested against gun violence continuously,” Fritz Fragé, Newark’s public safety director, told reporters after the shooting. “He supported the city in all of his efforts in helping to keep our city safe. It is with deep loss that the city will mourn his absence.”