The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a mass shooting allegedly targeting Hispanic people at a home in Crete, Nebraska.
Seven people, including 4 children, were reportedly shot by a neighbor at the Nebraska home Friday evening, according to authorities, who said the crime could potentially be racially motivated. All victims are expected to survive.
A SWAT team found the 74-year-old suspect, Billy Booth, dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home across the street from the house from which he is believed to have opened fire. The suspect had reportedly previously made racist remarks to his Hispanic neighbors, including “Go home” and “Speak English” prior to the shooting.
SEE: 7 injured, including 4 children, at Nebraska home after neighbor opens fire
SEE ALSO: Neighbor, 74, shoots seven people, including four children
In a statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said:
“We condemn this horrific shooting as yet another manifestation of the rising bigotry we are witnessing nationwide targeting minority communities. This shooting is a clear demonstration of the danger that violent bigotry and extremism can pose to our society.”
He added that CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging Islamophobia, antisemitism, anti-Palestinian hate, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com