Imam shot and killed outside New Jersey mosque

Police in New Jersey continue to search for the shooter who killed an Imam outside of a mosque while they also try to determine a motive. The fatal shooting occurred around 6 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, in Newark.

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Police said Hassan Sharif, an Imam at Masjid Muhammad-Newark, was shot multiple times. Sharif was taken to the hospital in critical condition but died hours later. Authorities said preliminary evidence indicated the shooting was not motivated by bias or was an act of domestic terrorism.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin says the motive is still being investigated. Platkin said security at houses of worship in the state has been ramped up amid growing reports of threats and violence against Muslims and Jews in America since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October. Platkin said that New Jersey is home to more than 300,000 Mulsim Americans.

“At a time when bias incidents against members of the Muslim community are on the rise, we know that this act of gun violence will heighten fears and concerns in our State,” Platkin said.

As law enforcement continues to investigate the shooting, the Council on American-Islamic Relations New Jersey is urging anyone with information to come forward.

“We are deeply concerned about this incident. Anyone with information about the shooting should immediately contact local police,” CAIR-NJ said.