Berclair Mosque Incident: Memphis Police Release Suspect Description
A security guard at the mosque, known as the Muslim Society of Memphis, contacted police after spotting the man wandering around the property on Stratford Road.
The incident has raised concerns in the Muslim community because the suspect is still at large.
Muslim leaders voiced concerns Wednesday, during a Muslim prayer vigil, regarding a disturbing incident Monday morning on the grounds of the Masjid As-Salam Mosque on Stratford Road.
“We don’t know actually what was his intention and the police even could not catch him and make any kind of investigation with him,” said Amal Altareb, American Muslim Advisory Council.
A suspect remains on the run after a security guard at the mosque confronted a man carrying what appeared to be a rifle and wandering around the mosque property.
Reportedly, the man entered the property through an open gate, but did not enter the mosque, which, according to police, appeared to be in use.
When police arrived, the suspect ran north toward Covington Pike, but police have a pretty good description.
They said the man is around 30 years old, has a medium build, short dark hair, a possible tattoo on his right shoulder. He was wearing blue jeans, boots, and carried a cellphone along with a dark rifle with a green sling.
Police spotted the suspect in this area of Covington Pike near I-40 and tried to make contact, but the suspect with a dark rifle, fled into these woods, known as the Wolf River Bottoms, and he got away.
MPD searched and even launched drones, but were unable to find the suspect.
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The incident brought determined calls for unity.
“The only way for us to come out of this to be united,” said Altareb.
Monday’s incident comes just days after a gunman killed three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Source: wreg.com
