An Iraqi man was gunned down by an unidentified assailant while he was watching his first snowfall in his new American hometown, according to Dallas police.
Patrols have stepped up in the neighborhood where the immigrant Ahmed Al-Jumaili lived and died. Authorities are now in an effort to find whoever killed Al-Jumaili on Thursday as he and his brother watched the snow. Al-Jumaili's wife was taking photos when the incident happened.
Jeff Cotner, the Dallas police spokesman, said that Al-Jumaili had never seen snow as he is a recent immigrant. Cortner added, "Just like all of us, a pretty snowfall brings the child out in us."
According to CNN, Alia Salem, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in the Dallas and Forth Worth area said that "there is extreme heartache ... and no shortage of sadness for this beautiful young man who had just come to this country 20 days ago."
Salem said that CAIR became involved in the case immediately after the shooting incident because of the heightened sense of awareness with regard to hate crimes against Muslims. Salem also said that the Muslim community wanted to know whether Al-Jumaili's death was random or he was targeted. Police say that so far, they have no indication whether it was random or a hate crime.
Al-Jumali exclaimed "I'm hit" when the gunfire broke out, according to Cotner, basing on the statements by witnesses and the relatives of the victim. He ran to his apartment nearby and then died a few hours later. The police did not indicate where Al-Jumaili was hit or how many times he was shot.
A number of residents from the area reported seeing two to four men went in the apartment complex on foot through a vehicle gate just before the shooting incident. Cotner said that there was no interaction between the men and Al-Jumaili and his family.
According to statements from witnesses, multiple shots were fired from what is believed to be a rifle. Cotner said that the police are now conducting tests to see whether more than one rifle was used. However, he said that he could not reveal the model or make of the gun that was used in the shooting.
Salem together with CAIR is encouraging anyone with information to give regarding the shooting. She said that there are online campaigns to help raise funds for Al-Jumaili's family expenses, as well as an effort to raise extra funds to contribute to the reward.