Early Wednesday morning, Imam Hassan Sharif was fatally shot outside the Masjid-Muhammad Mosque in Newark, New Jersey. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. when the imam was in his car, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Imam Sharif succumbed to his injuries in the afternoon.
Authorities are actively searching for the shooter, and while the investigation is ongoing, there is currently no evidence indicating that the incident was motivated by bias or categorized as an act of domestic terrorism. Essex County Prosecutor Ted Stephens provided details about the shooting during a news conference.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, addressing reporters, emphasized that the evidence collected so far doesn’t suggest a bias-related or domestic terrorism motivation. He noted that it’s unusual to disclose such information early in the investigation but cited the heightened concern over rising bias against the Muslim community as a reason to share preliminary findings.
Platkin acknowledged the increased fear and anxiety felt by many in New Jersey, especially within the Muslim community, due to global events and a surge in bias targeting various communities across the state. The investigation continues as law enforcement endeavors to identify and apprehend the perpetrator responsible for the tragic shooting.