Newark community mourns slain Imam Hassan Sharif, as search continues for his killer
NEWARK, N.J. -- The search is on for the killer of an imam of a Newark mosque. The New Jersey attorney general has said there's no evidence to suggest the shooting death had anything do with bias or domestic terrorism.
The Essex County Sheriff's Crime Stoppers is offering a $25,000 reward for any information that will lead to the arrest of the person or people responsible.
"They took a good brother and they are going to pay in the eyes of Allah," worshipper Queen Mecca said.
There is pain and anger at Masjid Muhammad in Newark as worshippers continue to come to grips with the death of their imam, Hassan Sharif.
"He had a beautiful mind and a beautiful heart," Queen Mecca said.
Prosecutors say Sharif, who had been an imam at the mosque for five years, was gunned down Wednesday as he approached his car parked behind the house of worship just after pre-dawn prayer. He later died at the hospital.
"For somebody to do this to him, they had to be heartless, soul-less," said Timothy Bynum, Sharif's uncle. "They waited for him to come out after prayer and assassinated him. That was an assassination."
Bynum and worshippers like Queen Mecca said they believe the imam was targeted.
"He just asked them to move from this Masjid, to not sell drugs. They going to pay for what they did -- to not sell drugs," Queen Mecca said.
Law enforcement sources told CBS New York that investigators are looking at every lead, but it is too early for a motive.
Bynum said the imam said he was attacked months ago.
"An attempt was made on his life and managed to wrestle the gun from the guy, but the guy go away," Bynum said. "He wasn't afraid. He had the heart of a lion, but at the same time he was as gentle as a lamb."
The mosque has released an official statement on Facebook, which said, "I want to encourage you to please be mindful and sensitive to the family right now. We are hearing a lot of things that is going around certain narratives."
Sources told CBS New York investigators are looking through surveillance video, but that much of the video right now doesn't show a clear picture of exactly what happened.
Meanwhile, the mosque is preparing to say goodbye to the imam, who, by Islamic guidelines, must be buried within three days of his death.
Anyone with information about his death is asked to call the Newark Police Department at 1-877-NWK TIPS (1-877-695-8477).