CAIR Seeks Probe Into Shooting Death of Mentally Ill Louisiana Muslim

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/8/15) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for an “independent and thorough†investigation into the fatal shooting of a mentally ill Muslim by officers from the Shreveport Police Department, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Centenary College Department of Public Safety in Shreveport, La., on Sunday.  

SEE: Update: Police Pursuit Ends in Death of Mentally Ill Suspect

Suspect Identified in Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting

Subject in Officer-Involved Shooting Identified

Mohamed Ibrahim, 28, was shot Sunday evening after reportedly crashing during a chase by police officers. The shooting came after the family reported to police a few hours earlier that Mohamed was schizophrenic and acutely delusional. Eyewitnesses reported that he was shot 20-30 times.

In a statement, CAIR National Civil Rights Litigation Director Jenifer Wicks said:

“It is our duty to question every police-involved shooting to determine if the use of deadly force was necessary, particularly given the specific information that had been provided to police about Mr. Ibrahim’s mental health. We are asking for an independent and thorough investigation, public release of any video and audio recordings and transparency about the results of the investigation.â€Â Â 

Experts say that tactics that police are trained to use are the opposite of what should be done with mentally ill people in a crisis. 

SEE: Distraught People, Deadly Results: Officers Often Lack the Training to Approach the Mentally Unstable, Experts Say

Of All U.S. Police Shootings, One-Quarter Reportedly Involve the Mentally Ill

CAIR is the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. 

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CONTACT: CAIR National Civil Rights Litigation Director Jenifer Wicks, 202-640-4934, jwicks@cair.com; CAIR-National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, Email: ihooper@cair.com