Muslim woman shot dead near Boonton

Boonton Police is on the lookout for killers of a young Pakistani woman, whose death has created a stir in the harmonious locality.

The brutal killing took place at 11.30 p.m. on Tuesday, near the intersection of William and Cedar streets, where she and her husband had been to visit their relatives.

Husband injured, son unhurt
Nazish Noorani,27, was out for a stroll with her husband and 3-year- old son, after the traditional iftar meal that breaks the daily fast which Muslims observe during Ramdaan.

Born in Pakistan, Nazish was brought up in Boonton, the place where she met her tragic end.

The trio was walking a few blocks from her sister’s house to her father’s house, when the shooting took place.

Nazish, who was hit near the heart, died instantly. Her husband, Kashif Pervaiz, took four bullets in the ankle and shoulder, was reported to be in a stable condition. The child was not injured.

Robert Bianchi, Morris County Prosecutor said, “From what we have determined…this shooting appears to be target specific and that there is not a continuing danger to the general public at large.”

Is it a hate killing?
There are many questions being raised. People are particularly wondering if this could be a hate killing.

Police have not entirely ruled out this possibility. The victim was attired in the traditional Muslim attire, though she was not wearing the hijab, and could have been easily identified as a Muslim.

In this locality, where Muslims have been living for almost 50 years now, this would be really tragic.

Police Chief, Michael Beltran was quoted as saying, “We’ve had Muslims in the community for over 50 years and very few hate crimes."

Waj Khan, a cousin of Noorani, stated that in his 15 years in the locality he had never witnessed any bias.

Mayor Cy Wekilsky, who was there through the night, met with the family members. “It’s a good town and anytime something like this happens, people start making assumptions, and the wrong type of information gets out,” he said.

This is the eighth homicide to have occurred in Morris county this year.

Leaves behind two sons
The two young sons of Nazish have not yet been told about the tragedy. Muhammad Islam, Pervaiz’s cousin said, “It is too much for them. They are so young and now they have no mum.”