Police in New Mexico on Sunday called the investigation into the four deadly shootings of a Muslim man murdered in Albuquerque a "out of concern." It asked for help from the public to identify a "vehicle." It is believed by investigators that the past nine months were related.
The latest victim was shot Friday night, police said, and he attended the funerals of his two others killed in the past few weeks, according to a local Islamic leader. It happened right after.
Like the first victim shot dead in November, all three of his men are Pakistani or Afghan Muslim men living in Albuquerque, the state's largest city. was, police said.
Police have released few details of recent murders, but describe his first three killings as ambushes. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham characterized them as "targeted killings of Muslim residents."[11][12]U.S. President Joe Biden posted a message on Twitter on Sunday saying, Expressing solidarity with the Muslim community, he added, "These hateful attacks will not be tolerated in America." , which said it was chasing many leads, issued a bulletin with a photo of a four-door dark gray Volkswagen sedan. I'm interested in investigating."
It remained unclear how the car was linked to the incident, and police said they had not yet determined whether the investigation was looking for a suspect.
} The three recent victims belonged to the same mosque, according to Tahir Gauba, spokesperson for the Islamic Center in New Mexico. Authorities were withholding the identity of the man killed Friday until next of kin were notified.
But Gauba said he was killed shortly after attending the funerals of his two previous victims.
Muhammad Afzar Hussein, 27, a Pakistani immigrant and planning director for the city of Espanola, was shot dead outside his apartment complex on 1 August. Police said the Afghan community was found murdered near the city's international district on July 26. Hussein also participated in New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury's campaign team.
Police linked these two killings, along with Friday's murder, to his November 7 murder of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, who is also a Muslim from Afghanistan. said to be related. Parking lot outside halal supermarket and cafe.
"All four murders have some things in common," city police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos told reporters on Sunday. Asked if he considers harassment to be a hate crime, Gallegos said, "Hate is determined by motives, and at this time we don't know what those motives are."
Gauba said that in and around the city of Albuquerque, which is home to over 564,000 inhabitants, he has between 3,000 and 5,000 Muslims, and about 3,000 Muslims in the entire state. Estimated to account for 85%.
The New Mexico State Police, the FBI, and the United States Marshals Service are among the agencies assisting the investigation.
