DEARBORN – A year after an 18-year-old man was stabbed to death outside of an ice skating rink on the same date, tragedy struck the community again on Wednesday, July 13 as another young man was shot multiple times and killed. 

The incident happened after a pick-up basketball game near Riverside Academy West on the city’s east side just off Schaefer Road.

Thousands of mourners came out to pay their respects to Hassan Zeidan at the Islamic Center of America on Thursday, July 14 as emotions ran strong. PHOTO: Nafeh AbuNab/American Elite Studios

The victim was believed to be 23-year-old Hassan Zeidan by friends who had arrived on the scene as numerous police officers secured the area. He was later confirmed as the victim, although police had not released his name officially as of press time.

On Thursday, July 14 at 8 p.m., thousands of people came out to the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn to pay their respects to Zeidan, offering condolences and prayers in a massive showing of community unity and support following the tragedy.  

Mourners at the Islamic Center were mostly overcome with grief as they walked up one-by-one to view Zeidan at rest in his coffin. Many of them questioned why a promising young life could be lost over a simple game of basketball. 

Witnesses said Zeidan was killed after an argument over a game played by between six and eight people led to a fight, following which the shooter went to his car to retrieve a gun.

According to witnesses, the shooter pulled up to the parking lot where the game was being played and fired multiple shots at the victim. The single basketball goal where the game was being played rests in an area near the school, ACCESS, and the Islamic Institute of Knowledge just off of Schaefer Road.

Imam Husham Al Husainy, the director of the Karbala Islamic Center nearby, said he had been lecturing about 100 young people at the center during a commemoration event for last year’s stabbing victim, Mohamad Abboud, about the importance of avoiding violence and conflict, when loud gunshots were heard outside. 

The alleged shooter fled the area of the basketball game and ran toward the center after being chased and attacked by other players who had witnessed the shooting. He had been bleeding, possibly from having shot himself in the foot accidentally according to an eyewitness.

Al Husainy said he tried to prevent others from continuing to attack the alleged shooter in retaliation until the police were able to arrive. He came out of the scuffle with blood on his cloak from the alleged shooter. He also said that the shooting victim’s father fell down and had what may have been a heart attack after arriving on the scene.

The alleged shooter was in police custody and was also taken to Oakwood Hospital with injuries. Police on the scene had no comment on the situation as they continued to gather evidence. 

“This is a tough life lesson, we need to teach our youth how valuable life is and as parents and the community we all have a role,” Al Husainy said.

He also said that the location was noteworthy in that it occurred near a school, mosque and community center and said that all three need to do a better job of teaching conflict resolution and the value of life in light of recent tragedies.

“We need more wisdom to learn how to avoid conflict otherwise we’ll keep losing in an expensive way,” he said, adding that he’s been in the community for about 30 years.

“We need to close the gap between the older generation and the youth,” he added. “This is a live example of what could happen if we don’t increase the passion, wisdom, and faith of the community.”

Mohamad El Salmen, 24 of Dearborn and a friend of Zeidan, was inside the mosque when the incident happened.

“It’s sad what’s happening, we had just come out of the commemoration (for Abboud) when we found out,” he said.

“Some people are falling in with the wrong lifestyle and we’re losing too many young people in the community.”