By: Richard L. Smith
The Essex County Sheriff's Office has announced a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the fatal shooting of Imam Hassan Sharif in Newark.
The incident occurred early in the morning on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at the intersection of South Orange Avenue and Camden Street.
According to reports from the Newark Police Department, officers responded to a distress call at approximately 6:16 a.m. and found Imam Sharif suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was quickly transported to University Hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries later that day.
Imam Sharif was a respected community leader and was preparing to open his mosque for the Fajr Prayer, an important early morning prayer in the Islamic faith, at the time of the attack.
Further complicating the investigation, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office disclosed that three individuals, including a man believed to be related to Imam Sharif, were arrested on January 26 on unrelated weapons charges.
These arrests occurred at a Newark residence and involved a 4th-degree violation of regulatory provisions relating to firearms.
However, officials have not confirmed whether the weapon involved in these charges was used in the Imam's murder.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information about the crime to come forward.
The generous reward underscores the community's urgency in solving this case and bringing those responsible to justice.