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The Albuquerque Islamic community is reeling after Albuquerque Police confirmed Saturday that a fourth South Asian Muslim man was killed, and likely connected to three previous murders in the past nine months.
The fourth victim, Naeem Hussain, attended the funeral service on Friday for two Muslim men who were killed in the past two weeks. According to the Islamic Center of New Mexico spokesperson Tahir Guaba, he was shot to death around midnight in a parking lot of an organization that offers services for refugees and asylum seekers near San Mateo and Copper SE.
The killings have sent shockwaves through the Islamic community leaving many afraid to leave their homes. Dr. Khalid Emshadi, an Albuquerque engineer who immigrated from Libya and is running for state legislature, posted on his social media pages, “I will not be in public with the exception of work until the killer is caught. I need to do what’s necessary to protect my family.”
President Biden took to Twitter on Sunday posting, “I’m angered and saddened by the horrific killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque. These hateful attacks have no place in America.”
Law enforcement believes the murder of 27-year-old Muhammad Afzaal Hussain last Monday night, as well as two other recent shootings involving Middle Eastern and Muslim residents, may be connected and racially and/or religiously motivated. Mohammad Ahmadi, a 62-year-old Afghanistani man in was shot and killed in November as he stood outside of his halal grocery store. In July, another man, a 41-year-old Afghanistani named Aftab Hussein, was shot and killed outside of his apartment.
On Sunday, Albuquerque Police issued photos of a car they believe may be involved, and have asked the community to please come forward with any information on the vehicle and the owners.
