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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 9 augusT 2022
Albuquerque police seek car in killings of 4 Muslim men

By STEFANIIE DAZIO and if the recent shootings were
MARIAM FAM hate crimes until they have
Associated Press identified a suspect and a
Authorities on Monday motive. Police did not re-
identified the fourth victim turn calls seeking comment
in a series of killings of Mus- Monday.
lim men in Albuquerque, Hussain was found dead
New Mexico, as the deaths after police received a call
sent ripples of fear through of a shooting. Authorities
the Islamic community na- declined to say whether
tionwide. the killing was carried out
Law enforcement officials in a way similar to the other
are also seeking help to deaths. Police confirmed
find a vehicle believed to last week that local de-
be connected to the slay- tectives and federal law
ings in New Mexico's largest enforcement officers were
city, where the common looking for possible ties be-
elements were the victims' tween the killings.
race and religion, officials Muhammad Afzaal Hussain
said. had worked as a field orga-
Naeem Hussain was killed nizer for a local congress-
Friday night, and ambush woman's campaign.
shootings killed three other Rep. Melanie Stansbury is-
Muslim men over the past sued a statement praising
nine months. Police are try- Albuquerque Police Deputy Chief of Investigations Cecily Barker holds a flyer with photos of a car him as "one of the kindest
wanted in connection with Muslim men murdered as Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham looks on
ing to determine if the slay- in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022. and hardest working peo-
ings are linked. Associated Press ple" she has ever known.
The killings have sent She said the urban planner
spread fear beyond New week. Both were from Paki- to suspect the car was in- ing for us as a Muslim minor- was "committed to making
Mexico. stan and members of the volved in the slayings. ity community in the United our public spaces work for
"The fact the suspect re- same mosque. "We have a very, very States that has endured so every person and cleaning
mains at large is terrifying," The earliest case involves strong link," Albuquerque much backlash and dis- up legacy pollution."
Debbie Almontaser, a Mus- the November killing of Mayor Tim Keller said Sun- crimination" since the 9/11 As land-use director for the
lim community leader in Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, a day. "We have a vehicle of attacks, she said. "It's fright- city of Española — more
New York, wrote on Twitter. Muslim man from Afghani- interest … We have got to ening. It's scary." than 85 miles (137 kilome-
"Who is next?!" stan. Police said the same find this vehicle." Last year, a poll by The As- ters) north of Albuquerque
In a phone interview, Al- vehicle is suspected of be- President Joe Biden said sociated Press-NORC Cen- — Muhammad Afzaal Hus-
montaser said that a fe- ing used in all four homi- he was "angered and ter for Public Affairs Re- sain worked to improve
male friend who lives in cides — a dark gray or sil- saddened" by the killings search conducted ahead conditions and inclusivity
Michigan and wears the ver four-door Volkswagen and that his administration of the 20th anniversary for disadvantaged minori-
hijab shared with her over that appears to be a Jetta "stands strongly with the of 9/11 found that 53% of ties, according to the may-
the weekend just how rat- with dark tinted windows. Muslim community." Americans at the time had or's office.
tled she was. "She's like, 'This Authorities released photos "These hateful attacks have unfavorable views toward "Muhammad was soft-spo-
is so terrifying. I'm so scared. hoping people could help no place in America," Biden Islam, compared with 42% ken and kind, and quick
I travel alone,' " Almontaser identify the car. said Sunday in a tweet. who had favorable ones. to laugh," Española Mayor
said. "We will bring this person The conversation about This stood in contrast to John Ramon Vigil said in a
Hussain, 25, was a Muslim or these persons to jus- safety has also dominat- Americans' opinions about news release. The city staff
from Pakistan. His death tice," Gov. Michelle Lujan ed WhatsApp groups and Christianity and Judaism, "has lost a member of our
followed those of Muham- Grisham said Sunday. email groups that Almon- for which most respondents family, and we all have lost
mad Afzaal Hussain, 27, Investigators did not say taser is on. expressed favorable views. a brilliant public servant
and Aftab Hussein, 41, where the images were "What we've seen happen Albuquerque authorities who wanted to service and
who were killed in the past taken or what led them in New Mexico is very chill- say they cannot determine improve his community."q

9 wounded in shooting outside

Cincinnati bar, police say

CINCINNATI (AP) — At least John of the Cincinnati po- round at a suspect who
nine people were wound- lice told reporters. fled the scene, but it was
ed — none critically — in a John said during a Sun- unclear if that person was
shooting outside a Cincin- day news conference that hit, something John called
nati bar early Sunday, po- eight men and one woman "a little unusual." More shots
lice said. ranging in age from 23 to were fired after that per-
The shooting took place 47 were wounded. All nine son fled, so police believe
shortly after 1:30 a.m. out- people treated at the Uni- at least two people were
side Mr. Pitiful's bar in the versity of Cincinnati Medi- shooting, he said.
Ohio city's Over-the-Rhine cal Center had been re- "What I can tell you is that
district, a popular nightlife leased, hospital spokesper- the individual that he fired
Cincinnati police officer investigate the scene early Sunday, area. Most of the victims son Heather Chura told The at was actively shooting a
Aug. 7, 2022, in Cincinnati, following an overnight shooting. suffered wounds to their (Cincinnati) Enquirer. firearm at that time," John
Associated Press lower halves, Lt. Col. Mike A police officer fired one said. q