Phoenix police are searching for a man who drove up to a north Phoenix mosque in the early hours of Saturday morning and opened fire on a group of people gathered outside — an incident that rattled the congregation and drew a swift public response from city leadership.
The confrontation took place around 2:30 a.m. near the Islamic Center of North Phoenix, located near 23rd and Joan De Arc avenues. According to witnesses, a vehicle pulled up to the mosque’s entrance and a man stepped out holding what initially appeared to be a firearm. Those present scattered when they heard a series of sharp popping sounds. The suspect then fired additional rounds at vehicles parked on the property before getting back in the car and driving away.
Investigators later determined the weapon was a paintball or pellet gun rather than a conventional firearm. No one was physically injured, though the psychological impact on those present was immediate. Officers canvassed the surrounding area but were unable to locate the suspect or the vehicle.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego weighed in on the incident Saturday morning via social media, writing that hate has no place in the city — an implicit acknowledgment of the targeted nature of the attack on a religious institution.
The Phoenix Police Department has not yet confirmed whether the incident is being investigated as a hate crime, though the circumstances — a man approaching a mosque and firing on a group in the middle of the night — have raised serious concerns within the local Muslim community.
Anyone with information about the suspect or the vehicle involved is encouraged to contact Silent Witness at 480-948-6377, or 480-837-8446 for Spanish-speaking callers. Tips can also be submitted anonymously.
