The top prosecutor in the case of Nabra Hassanen’s death said every motive is still on the table and that it’s too early to limit to just road rage. News4’s Jackie Bensen reports.
On the Facebook page for Wednesday's Northern Virginia vigil for 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen, friends and strangers alike are mourning.
But these online cries for peace and justice aren't limited to a single event. Sharing the #JusticeForNabra hashtag, many vigils are being planned nationally to recognize the loss of Hassanen, who was killed early Sunday morning.
Police believe Hassanen, who was about to finish her sophomore year of high school, was fatally beaten with a baseball bat while returning to an all-night prayer session at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center.
Darwin Martinez Torres, 22, was charged with her murder after police found Hassanen's body in a nearby pond. Police believe Hassanen was a victim of road rage, not a hate crime, but Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Raymond Morrogh said prosecutors have not ruled out any motive. Fairfax County will prosecute the case.
Hassanen's father remains convinced her religion drew the attacker to her.
"Because she is a Muslim," Mahmoud Hassanen said. "She has Muslim clothes."
Others have shared that view on social media.
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A vigil for Hassanen is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston, with #JusticeForNabra events also being planned nationwide. The majority of vigils are planned for both Tuesday and Wednesday, and some are set to occur early next week.
In addition to the vigil in Reston, events are being held in Washington, D.C., and several other major cities, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
Many of the vigils are encouraging attendees to bring flowers rather than candles to hold during the vigil.
A family representative told NBC4 that Hassanen's funeral prayer service will take place Wednesday afternoon at the ADAMS Center Mosque.
A donation page set up to support Hassanen's family has already raised more than $280,000.
Vigils are scheduled in the following locations, according to event pages:
- Washington, D.C.: Standing Against Violence: DC Vigial and Iftar #JusticeForNabra
- Reston, Virginia: Vigil for Nabra
- Boston: Standing Against Violence: Boston Vigil #JusticeForNabra
- Detroit: Standing Against Violence: Detroit Vigil #JusticeForNabra
- Haledon, New Jersey: Standing Against Violence: New Jersey Vigil #JusticeForNabra
- Los Angeles: Standing Against Violence: Los Angeles Vigil #JusticeForNabra
- New York: Standing Against Violence: National Vigil #JusticeForNabra
- Philadelphia: Standing Against Violence: Philadelphia Vigil #JusticeForNabra
- San Francisco: SF Vigil #JusticeForNabra: Standing Against Violence
View Vigils for Nabra Hassanen in a full screen map
