Officials are investigating a shooting apparently targeted at the leader of the West Jordan-based Utah Islamic Center and have increased security around the mosque.
Monday’s incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of 700 West and 9000 South in Sandy when the occupant of one car fired on another vehicle operated by Shuaib Din, the imam of the Utah Islamic Center. Din’s car was hit seven or eight times, according to Sandy Police Sgt. Michael Olsen. No one was injured.
Olsen didn’t name Din, though he confirmed he was a member of the Islamic community, but the Utah Islamic Center identified Din as the target in a Facebook post Monday night.
“Earlier this evening at approximately 7:30 p.m., an individual followed Imam Shuaib from his home and fired several shots at him. By the mercy and protection of Allah (SWT), he was not harmed,” it reads.
Officials have made no arrest, Olsen said Tuesday, but investigators are looking into the possibility the incident was a hate crime. Police have reached out to the FBI for assistance.
“We are working all available leads, and we are working all available motives to include the possibility of a hate crime, but we do not have information on a motive at this time. We are just working all available possibilities,” Olsen said.
Sandy police later Tuesday released photos of a gray or silver-colored car they said was seen in the area.
Anyone who may have seen the car was asked to contact police at 801-568-INFO.
The Utah Islamic Center said increased security measures would be implemented, and a West Jordan police official said the department would boost patrols around the mosque.
“Law enforcement is conducting a full investigation. We ask the community to make dua and avoid speculation,” reads the Utah Islamic Center statement. “May Allah (SWT) protect our imam and community.”
Monday’s incident comes in the midst of Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims. Ramadan started Feb. 18, and it lasts around a month. During Ramadan, Muslim practitioners go without food or drink from sunup to sundown each day, engage in prayer and reflection and more.
“It is a month of celebration,” Din told a Ramadan gathering in 2024. “It is a month of meditation. ... It is a month of sharing. It is a month of fellowship and coming together.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the incident. In a statement Tuesday, the Washington, D.C.-based organization also called on police to bolster protection of the Muslim community and for local community leaders to voice their commitment to religious freedom.
“Any act of violence targeting a religious leader or faith community is deeply alarming,” the council said. “We hope the offer of a reward will lead to the arrest and conviction of the alleged perpetrator. Only then can the community be assured that a similar attack will not occur.”
Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski said the city is deeply troubled about the shooting but that she is grateful that Shauib was not harmed.
“While the motive remains under investigation, we cannot ignore that this occurrence 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,” she said in a statement.
The United Jewish Federation of Utah also said it is “deeply alarmed” by the shooting.
The Jewish Federation added that no faith leader, and no person, should fear violence because of who they are or where they pray.
“Law enforcement officials have indicated they are investigating all possible motives, including the possibility of a hate crime. Regardless of motive, violence directed at a faith leader and a house of worship threatens the safety and dignity of all Utahns. We stand in unequivocal solidarity with Iman Shuaib, his family, and the Muslim community across our state,” the Jewish Federation said in a statement.
The Utah Democratic Party in a post on X called the incident a “direct attack” on the safety, freedom, and values of every Utahn.
“Let’s be clear: Islamophobia has NO place in our communities. Anyone who attacks a house of faith must be held fully accountable under the law,” a statement from the Democratic Party reads.