U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-10) is speaking out about the killing of Imam Hassan Sharif, a part of the Masjid Muhammad Mosque in Newark, stating in part “I hope his murderer is brought to justice quickly.”
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I was shocked and saddened to hear of the murder of Imam Hassan Sharif. My condolences to his family, friends and the entire Masjid Muhammad community during this tragic time. Imam Sharif was a kind man and a pillar of the greater Newark community. He was always there to help those in need,” he said in a statement.
“I was impressed with his strong work to help and feed the homeless and give second chances to people who suffered from drug and alcohol addiction. While law enforcement officials have said this is not a hate crime or domestic terrorism, it is another horrible example of America’s gun violence epidemic … I hope his murderer is brought to justice quickly and I would encourage anyone with information about Imam Sharif’s death to contact law enforcement officials immediately.”
As of this writing, Sharif’s killer remains at large and hasn’t even been identified yet, with authorities stating that the motive remains unclear.
Rewards totaling at least $35,000 are being offered for information in the deadly shooting, including a $25,000 reward through CrimeStoppers, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office told CNN.
Additionally, the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
