State and federal law-enforcement agencies in New Mexico are investigating four murders of Muslim men in Albuquerque as possibly related. The most recent came on Friday night, following two others in July and August and a fourth in November. The deaths are being probed by the FBI along with Albuquerque police and other local, state and federal agencies, reports the Wall Street Journal. “These shootings are disturbing,” said Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina, that police have reason to believe the deaths are related. Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, said, "This is a very troubling time for all of us"
Officials aren’t calling the killings hate crimes, saying that speaks to motive and none is known yet. Few details were given about the Friday death, which occurred late at night and involved the shooting of a young Muslim man from South Asia. The other three deaths also involved firearms. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is sending additional state resources to Albuquerque. “This is not who we are,” she said, noting that New Mexico is a state that prides itself on a diversity of cultures. “We’re in fear for the safety of our children, our families,” said Assed. Friday’s killing came a day after the Albuquerque Police Department said it was looking into ties between the August and July killings of Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, both Muslim men from Pakistan. Police said they are investigating whether a fourth victim, Mohammad Ahmadi, a Muslim from Afghanistan who was killed in November outside a family business he ran, is connected.