Authorities on Monday identified a fourth victim in a series of murders of Muslim men in Albuquerque as the death sent a ripple of terror into Muslim communities across the country.
Three killings have occurred in the past week. Law enforcement officials are now seeking help in locating vehicles believed to be involved in the killings in New Mexico’s largest city. officials said.
Naeem Hussain was killed Friday night and three other Muslim men have been killed in ambushes over the past nine months. Police are trying to determine if they are linked.
The killing has spread fear beyond New Mexico, where Muslims make up less than 1 percent of adults in the state’s total population of 2.1 million, according to the Pew Research Center.
“The fact that the suspect is on the run is appalling,” New York Muslim community leader Debbie Almontzer wrote on Twitter. “Who’s next?!”
Almontaser said in a phone interview that a hijab-headwearing female friend who lives in Michigan said how much she felt wearing the hijab headcover she shared with her over the weekend. “She said, ‘This is so scary. I’m so scared. I travel alone,'” Almontaser said.
Hussein, 25, was from Pakistan. His death came days after Muhammad Afzar Hussein, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and were members of the same mosque.
The earliest case was the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.
“We will bring this person or these people to justice,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said on Sunday.
Police said they suspected the same vehicle was used in all four murders — a dark gray or silver four-door Volkswagen that looks like a Jetta or Passat with dark windows. , released the photo in hopes of helping people identify the car, and offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Investigators did not say where the images were taken or why they suspected the car was involved in the killing. Police spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said in an email Monday that the agency had received information about the vehicle but did not elaborate.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said Sunday, “We have a very strong connection.
Gallegos said he could not comment on the types of guns used in the shootings or whether police knew how many suspects were involved in the violence.
President Joe Biden said he was “angered and saddened” by the killing and that his administration “strongly supports the Muslim community.”
Biden tweeted on Sunday, “These hateful attacks will not be tolerated in America.
Safety conversations are also trending in the WhatsApp and email groups Almontaser participates in.
“What is happening in New Mexico is very chilling for us as a Muslim minority community in the United States, which has endured so much backlash and discrimination since the 9/11 attacks.” she said. “It’s scary. It’s scary.”
A poll conducted last year by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs and Research ahead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 found that 53% of Americans at the time had a favorable opinion of Islam, compared with We found that 42% had a positive opinion. This was in contrast to American opinions of Christianity and Judaism, which most respondents expressed in favor of.
Albuquerque officials say they cannot determine whether the killing was a hate crime until they identify a suspect and motive.
Louis Schlesinger, a professor of forensic psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, said prejudice murders are often committed by a minority of people, typically young white men. T. Lone perpetrators are rare.
“They are basically complete losers in every way, socially, financially, psychologically,” he said. “They are hateful for some reason, and they target certain groups who see in their own hearts responsibility for all the problems in life.”
Two of the Albuquerque victims attended the same mosque but were killed in separate shootings days apart.
It was not clear whether the victims were known to the suspect or suspects before their deaths. rice field.
“It’s easy to kill one person. The risk of being arrested yourself is low,” he said. “If you go into a mosque and shoot the place, someone may shoot you.”
The latest victim was found dead after police received a call about the shooting. Authorities declined to say whether the killings were carried out in a manner similar to other deaths.
Muhammad Afzaal Hussain worked as a field organizer for the local councilor’s campaign.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury released a statement, praising him as “one of the kindest, hardworking people I’ve ever known.” She said city planners are “dedicated to making our public spaces work for everyone and cleaning up legacy pollution.”
As land use officer for the city of Espanola (more than 85 miles north of Albuquerque), Hussein worked to improve conditions and inclusion for disadvantaged minorities, according to the mayor’s office.
Espanola Mayor John Ramon Vigil said in a news release, “Muhammad was soft-spoken and kind and quick to laugh. We have lost a good public servant who served and wanted to improve.”
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