Following the shooting, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations had called on the FBI to investigate it as a hate crime. McCarthy said Wednesday he’s spoken with the bureau, and that although it’s not involved in the investigation, “we are keeping them apprised” of the department’s probe.
“Had it been aimed lower and gone through a window, I personally believe it could have killed someone, if not injured them very seriously. So that is not lost of anyone and is much cause for concern, and fear, really,” CAIR-Chicago executive director Ahmed Rehab told WGN
The office had asked the FBI to step in and investigate the incident as a hate crime but had not received a response from the bureau as of late Tuesday, Karoluk said. CAIR also asked Orland Park police for increased patrols around the mosque.
Orland Park police are investigating but the investigation may expand to the federal level as well. The prayer center is working with the Chicago chapter of CAIR in asking the FBI to investigate this as a hate crime.
CAIR said Orland Park police were contacted and are investigating. Orland Park police could not be reached for comment.
No one was hurt when the single shot was fired through the dome of the Orland Park Prayer Center a few minutes after 6 a.m. during the Fajr, or break-of-dawn prayer, according to a statement from the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
“We need to take these incidents very seriously and that is why we wanted to emphasize for all authorities involved, whether local police or FBI, to look through all the possibilities,” said Agnieszka Karoluk, senior communications coordinator, CAIR.
“We’re very happy that no one was hurt and because it happened at such an early time, 6:05 for Fajr prayer, that is when most mosques have the least amount of people in them, at least in the United States because it is so early,” said CAIR spokeswoman Agnieszka Karoluk.
The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) is calling for an FBI hate crime investigation into the incident.
CAIR-Chicago has contacted the Orland Park Police to request increased security patrols and is asking the FBI to investigate the shooting for a potential bias crime.
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