TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Part of the Tampa Muslim community is upset over the lack of charges after a shooting that left one man dead. They are demanding answers from law enforcement.
They want to see justice.
Friends of the victim tell News Channel 8 they are afraid that the shooter is still amongst them.
“That’s not right! That’s not right! And he kills inside the mosque,” yelled out Rian Haommdi.
Friends and family of Rafat Saeed are worked up in a frenzy over the lack of charges against the man they say shot and killed him.
“I have to say something too! We just ask for justice! We are under the flag, US,” said Haommdi.
Friends say Saeed was crossing the parking lot of the mosque to go home. Deputies say he got into an argument with a man he knew and was then shot twice.
At this point, investigators have not charged anyone.
“How come the Hillsborough County’s Sheriff’s not press charges? They release him next hour or the next day. Like, what’s the reason? We would like to know. As a community we’d like to know what happened,” said another family friend, Manwar Alshammari.
The sheriff’s office says they understand the frustration but ask for patience to do what needs to be done right.
“It’s going to take time and it’s a process. It happened on Monday early in the morning. In perspective, it’s only been two days. We’re very, very early in the investigative process,” said Danny Alvarez with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Friends and family of Saeed are asking for better communication.
“To the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office, we will ask you to help the people and the community to find peace and justice,” said Alshammari.
The name of the shooter has not been released. Police do not think the community is in any danger. They are asking for any witnesses to come forward.
