Family in 'deep agony,' says imam at funeral for 16-year-old boy from Syria fatally shot at Hamilton mall

thomas more than 100 people gathered at the william rowan hamilton mount Mosque mon afternoon for the obsequy of Nabil Askafe, the 16-year-old Hamilton boy killed over the weekend at Jackson Square mall.

Some people cried quietly and the mood was somber as the funeral got underway. After a prayer, president of the mosque Javid Mirza said it doesn’t get easier seeing parents bury their children instead of the other way around. “To all of his loved people,” he said, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Askafe, who had recently immigrated from Syria with his parents and little brother, was shot and killed at the mall Friday, Hamilton police said. He was a Westdale Secondary School student.

At the funeral, Imam Sayed Tora told those gathered Askafe was "a student. He was a friend. He was a vibrant member of the community," adding there is "deep agony" in the hearts of Askafe's parents.

A friend of Akafe’s read a few words, at the request of the teen's father. “I’m still trying to understand,” the friend said, adding he’s “still expecting to see you laugh” and reminiscing about Askafe’s good sense of humour. 

He described Askafe as someone who made everyone laugh, even when he was carrying his own struggles. “You were a good son, a good brother and a good person,” he said. 

“I miss you more than words can explain.”

Mechmechia is a mental health and trauma counsellor, who works in and around Hamilton. She said she's known Askafe's family for about eight years through both the Syrian community and because his family members have volunteered with her programming.

"It's definitely such a traumatic experience [the family is] going through," she added.

In addition to the teen's family, "the entire community is shaking," Mechmechia said. "They're not able to understand why such a [tragedy] could happen in the middle of the day in downtown Hamilton."

Police have said Askafe and the teen who alleged killed him got into a physical altercation "just inside" the mall at King Street W. Near a Himalayan restaurant. The 14-year-old brandished a gun, police said, and shot Askafe.

Young people in the Syrian community are "questioning their own safety," Mechmechia said.

She said Askafe's death is "too tragic" and highlights the responsibility all of Hamilton has to keep young people safe.

When dealing with a loss like this, Mechmechia said, newcomers face additional challenges, including being displaced from extended family and language barriers plus a lack of familiarity when dealing with police.

"We're hoping to ensure that this is not only family loss, it's a loss that the whole community is carrying and we all are feeling the weight of," Mechmechia said. "And we're hoping that this never ever happens again."

At the funeral Monday, the imam called on Mayor Andrea Horwath and MPP Sandy Shaw, who were present, to take action on youth violence.

“The answer for these kind of incidents is not to keep increasing the police budget," he said. "But tap into initiatives … and put our money where our mouth is.”

In a statement on Friday, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said the city needs "urgent, stronger action to get illegal firearms out of our communities."

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