Hassan Sharif death: Police eyes family member as Newark imam is fatally shot outside Masjid Muhammad mosque

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY: Police are still in search of the assailant responsible for fatally shooting Iman Hassan Sharif outside his mosque in Newark. Presently, detectives are investigating the possibility that a family member may have been involved in the incident.

On January 3, Sharif, 52, was in his car outside the Masjid Muhammad mosque when he sustained multiple gunshot wounds around 6.15 am. Unfortunately,  the imam was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital at 2:20 pm.

Authorities are still in the preliminary stages of investigating Hassan Sharif's killing

Law enforcement sources, who spoke anonymously to discuss an ongoing investigation, stated that the inquiry surrounding Sharif's death is still in its initial stages. No details regarding the potential motive of the family member were provided.

Investigators are currently working to establish whether the relative is the individual captured on surveillance video fleeing the scene on a bike, as per NBC News.

The tragic incident prompted an outpouring of tributes from members of the mosque, community activists, religious leaders, and government officials, including New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

Sharif was fondly remembered as a community member who dedicated himself to uplifting people from poverty and addressing Newark's high rate of violent crime.

Fritz Frage, the city's public safety director, addressed reporters after the shooting, saying, "He was a community advocate who protested against gun violence continuously He supported the city in all of his efforts in helping to keep our city safe. It is with deep loss that the city will mourn his absence." 

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka asserted in a statement, "Our hearts are broken."

Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens calls Hassan Sharif's killing a dastardly crime 

Essex County Crime Stoppers is ready to offer a $25,000 reward for anyone providing information about the shooting. In the aftermath of the attack, authorities mentioned that the motive remained unclear, and bias did not appear to be a driving factor.

Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens emphasized, "While I have indicated that this investigation is at the very early stages, the impact on the community of this sort of particularly dastardly crime cannot be understated."

In August, Sharif, exiting his car for morning prayers, found himself facing an armed assailant who put a gun to his head, as reported by him on Facebook. Engaging in a struggle with the gunman, the imam managed to gain control of the weapon.

Despite the assailant fleeing, Sharif attempted to return fire, but the gun jammed. 

In a post, expressed his resilience, writing, "I will not be intimidated by anyone of you punks who thought it was ok to come up with this plan or to put the idea in this young man’s mind."

Notably, Sharif worked as a transportation security officer at Newark Liberty International Airport since 2006.