Police identified a correctional officer who was shot and killed during a carjacking outside of a Delaware County mosque and released a photo of a person of interest in the shooting.
Police responded to a reported shooting in the parking lot of the Masjid Al-Madinah Islamic Center along 69th Street in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, around 7:45 p.m. Sunday. When they arrived they found a 65-year-old man, later identified as Mohammad Rahman, in the parking lot of the mosque, suffering a gunshot wound.
Rahman was later pronounced dead at the scene by medics.
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Investigators determined a carjacking led to the shooting and Rahman's vehicle, a white Toyota Rav 4, had been stolen. The vehicle was later found along the 800 block of Cecil Street in Philadelphia and taken back to Upper Darby Police headquarters.
"The person who’s responsible for this is a coward," Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt said. "A coward in every possible word that you could describe a coward being. He could’ve taken that car and left Mr. Rahman there. He didn’t. He chose to take his life. That individual will be held accountable for this. I can promise you that.”
Monday afternoon, investigators released a surveillance photo of a person of interest in the shooting. Bernhardt said the man was wearing ripped jeans and designer sneakers.
At this point, investigators don't believe the deadly carjacking was a hate crime or motivated by bias or based on Rahman's membership to the mosque.
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During a Monday afternoon press conference, Pennsylvania Senator Tim Kearney (D-26th District) said he was standing in solidarity with Upper Darby's Muslim community.
“This mosque has been an integral part of Upper Darby society now for many, many years. And what happened last night is just unconscionable," Kearney said. "There’s no indication that it was specifically a hate crime but that doesn’t really matter. We’re talking about a community that lives here. A community that thrives here. And we want to make sure that that continues to happen.”
Rahman is survived by a wife and daughter. He worked as a correctional officer at Philadelphia's Riverside Correctional Facility, according to Local 159 President David Robinson.
“Peaceful. A great guy. No complaints," Robinson said. "He wouldn’t even complain about anything. It’s sad that this happened to him. He was a great guy.”
If you have any information on the shooting, please call Upper Darby Police at 610-734-7693.
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