MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA’S STATEMENT ON MURDER OF IMAM HASSAN SHARIF

“This murder investigation is in the hands of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and our public safety ecosystem is supporting their efforts in every way possible. We will bring the perpetrator to justice, no matter how long it takes, and we encourage him to turn himself in through Newark’s Safe Surrender program.

We don’t yet know all the details, but here is what we do know: Imam Hassan Sharif stood with the people of this city, and we will stand with him and his family.

None of us has to know the details about this shooting to condemn it. Any act of violence, any killing or harming of any person, is never okay – no matter what precipitates or motivates such a depraved act.

Today we mourn a fellow Newarker and a member of our city’s multi-faith clergy community. I am disgusted that a gun has made its way through our community to kill one of us.

I mourn the death of Imam Hassan Sharif and know any expression of condolence and comfort for his family and loved ones is inadequate. Our hearts are broken.

As a city, we mourn so much today, but we must refuse to mourn our capacity to love each other and to embody our ideals for tolerance and understanding, acceptance, and equality. We must continue to build a Newark that serves as a safe refuge for all – and where justice is served to those who act out in violence. We must refuse to mourn our capacity to reach out to each other before difficulties become crises. And we must tighten our embrace of each other with full and tender compassion.”