Imam Masjid Hassan Sharif dies after shooting outside New Jersey mosque

An Imam Masjid, Hassan Sharif was shot dead outside a mosque in Newark, New Jersey on Wednesday morning.

Imam Masjid Hassan Sharif was critically injured and later died after a shooting outside Masjid Muhammad in Newark.

The incident occurred just after 6 a.m., with Sharif was found in the mosque’s parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators are reviewing security and city-owned cameras to identify a possible assailant, although some cameras were not operational.

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The mosque has historical ties to the Nation of Islam, and Sharif was a well-known figure in Newark, serving as a transportation security officer at Newark Liberty International Airport since 2006.

The motive for the shooting is unknown, and authorities state there is no current indication of bias. The investigation involves both Newark police and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.