Man fires paintballs at group outside Phoenix mosque, suspect search underway
Police ask the public for help in finding the suspect who fired a paintball gun outside of the Islamic Center of North Phoenix.
(Courtesy of the Phoenix Police Department)
Phoenix police are searching for a man who fired a paintball gun outside a mosque in North Phoenix.
Officers responded about 2:30 a.m. March 7 to a report of a man firing a BB gun toward people outside the Islamic Center of North Phoenix near 23rd and Joan De Arc avenues.
Several people had seen a vehicle approach the mosque’s gate, police said. A man got out of a vehicle and pointed what initially appeared to be a firearm.
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Phoenix police are searching for a man who fired a paintball gun outside a mosque in North Phoenix.
Officers responded about 2:30 a.m. March 7 to a report of a man firing a BB gun toward people outside the Islamic Center of North Phoenix near 23rd and Joan De Arc avenues.
Several people had seen a vehicle approach the mosque’s gate, police said. A man got out of a vehicle and pointed what initially appeared to be a firearm.
“The witnesses heard several popping sounds and retreated to safety,” police stated in a release.
The victims later determined the sounds were consistent with a pellet or paintball gun, not a firearm. The suspect returned to the vehicle and continued firing paintballs toward the group, striking several parked vehicles before fleeing the area, police said.
No injuries were reported.
Police ask anyone with information to contact SILENT WITNESS at (480) WITNESS or (480) TESTIGO for Spanish.
“Places of worship should always be spaces of peace, safety and reflection. No one should ever feel threatened or unsafe while gathering with their community in prayer,” Phoenix Councilwoman Betty Guardado said.
“My heart is with the members of the mosque and the surrounding community who experienced this frightening situation. I want them to know that I stand with them.”
Mayor Kate Gallego responded to the aggravated assault, saying “hate has no place in our city, and the person who did this will be brought to justice.”
“I continue to wish our Muslim neighbors a blessed holy month of Ramadan.”
As a precaution, police officers will continue increased patrols in the area while the investigation continues, officials said.
Meet Dan Dan McCarthy joined Independent Newsmedia as web content editor after a 40-plus year career as a reporter and editor in New Jersey and Arizona. During his time in Arizona, he has been an editor of daily and weekly papers in Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Ahwatukee, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Peoria and Glendale. Prior to moving to Arizona in 1984, when he was hired to be assistant city editor at the Tempe Daily News, he covered regional police/fire news, municipal, county and state governments in New Jersey, the latter as bureau chief at the state Capitol.
Community: He has served on several boards over the years, including the Tempe Community Action Agency and the Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital Board of Governors. He is a graduate of the Tempe Leadership and Scottsdale Leadership programs, serving as media adviser for subsequent classes of Tempe Leadership.
Education: Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism.
Random Fact: Set winter/summer track records in the 60-, 100- and 220-yard dashes at his high school in New Jersey.
Hobbies: Tai chi, cooking, dining at his must-eat-once places around the U.S. and the Cincinnati Reds, his favorite team since 1961.
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