Funeral at Hamilton mosque honours boy killed in Jackson Square shooting

Friends and family described 16-year-old Nabil Askafe as the kind of kid who could make anyone smile, no matter what kind of day they were having.

The teenager was remembered at a Hamilton mosque Monday afternoon, after he was shot and killed Friday night, just outside of Jackson Square Mall.

The 14-year-old boy that police believe is responsible for Askafe’s killing turned himself in to officers Sunday, and has been charged with second-degree murder.

Police are still trying to piece together why the shooting took place.

With a series of prayers at the Hamilton Mountain Mosque Monday afternoon, friends and family laid 16-year-old Askafe to rest.

Friends of the family say Askafe’s parents, who fled the Syrian civil war for Canada around 10 years ago, are at a loss for words.

“It’s such a devastating loss for a newcomer family, who said that we didn’t leave Syria because we wanted to,” said Abrar Mechmechia, who represents the Askafe family. “We left because we escaped for safety, for safety and opportunity for our children.”

“They come to a country from the war zone and they didn’t realize that they’ve just come here to bury their child,” said Naime Avdyli, a friend of the family.

The 16-year-old boy was shot and killed Friday night near the entrance of Jackson Square Mall downtown.

“There was a small, we’ll call it an altercation, outside the mall near the A&W on King Street,” said Hamilton police Det. Staff Sgt. Robert Di Ianni. “It appears that all the parties then went into Jackson Square, separately at first and then met back up, and that’s where the actual physical violence took place.”

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The 14-year-old boy that police allege fired multiple rounds, turned himself in on Sunday and is facing a charge of second-degree murder.

Police say there’s no indication the two teens knew each other prior to the deadly ‘altercation’, though they are investigating any links. Officers say Askafe was not armed at the time.

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath joined mourners at the funeral.

“A 14-year-old shooter, a 16-year-old victim — there’s something seriously wrong,” said Horwath. “Certainly we need to get the guns off the streets, we need to support our youth, and do that as a community.”

That was a common sentiment at the proceedings, as community members noted that violence among young people is becoming more common, including in newcomer communities.

The imam pointed to the recent killing in Burlington of 24-year-old Omar Muhammad, known as the rapper Lil ‘Ot, a member of the Afghan-Canadian community.

Avdyli says she’s worried for her own kids to walk around downtown, saying Askafe didn’t start the fight that led to his death.

“It seems to somewhat have become a norm — we’re saying goodbye to a lot of our youth,” said Avdyli. “Instead of helping them flourish, we’re sending them to the graveyard. You cannot feel any other way than heartbroken.”

A representative of the family says they’re looking to plan a community vigil to honour Askafe in the coming days, the planning for that is still in the works.

Police, meanwhile, say they’re not looking for additional suspects in Askafe’s killing at this time, but welcome any witnesses to please reach out.

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