Utah Imam Shot at Outside Home by Masked Gunman During Ramadan
Key Takeaways
- Imam Shuaib Din was shot at multiple times outside his home in Sandy, Utah on Monday evening.
- He was unharmed, though his vehicle was struck by bullets. The suspect fled the scene.
- Police are searching for a white passenger car and have released images of the suspected vehicle.
Sandy, Utah – A masked gunman fired multiple shots at an imam outside his home in suburban Salt Lake City on Monday evening during the holy month of Ramadan, authorities and local media reported.
The target of the attack was Shuaib Din, imam of the Utah Islamic Center, the largest mosque in the state. Din escaped unharmed, though his vehicle was struck several times.
Din told The Salt Lake Tribune that a man had been sitting in a car outside his home before opening fire as he left to attend evening prayers.
“He knew my house, knew my car, knew my schedule,” Din said.
He had just broken his fast with his family at home, about two minutes from the mosque. As he pulled out of his garage, the gunman, wearing a mask and hoodie, exited a vehicle and fired multiple shots before fleeing. After calling 911, Din attempted to obtain the suspect’s license plate number. The gunman then returned, pulled alongside Din’s vehicle and fired at least eight more shots.
Bullets struck the front and rear seats and the windshield. Din briefly pursued the suspect but later abandoned the effort. Police confirmed no suspect has been taken into custody.
Authorities later released images of what they believe is the suspect’s vehicle—a white passenger car that may have damage or a loose piece hanging beneath the front passenger-side bumper.
Community Response
The Utah Islamic Center issued a statement thanking law enforcement and urging the public to avoid speculation. The mosque will implement heightened security measures moving forward.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, and called for increased police protection for Din and the Muslim community.
Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski and the City Council expressed deep concern over the incident, noting it occurred during Ramadan. “While the motive remains under investigation, we cannot ignore that this occurred during the sacred month of Ramadan—a time of prayer, reflection, and peace for Muslims around the world. That makes this especially unsettling for our community,” they said in a statement.
Din said he did not know who carried out the attack and suggested it may have been a hate crime. “I was pretty shook up,” he said.
