CAIR Welcomes Arrest in Fla. Walmart Shooting

8 tips came in within one hour of CAIR reward offer

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) today welcomed the arrest of 25-year-old Daniel P. Quinnell, a suspect in the apparently bias-motivated shooting of a man outside a Walmart in Lutz, Fla., on Wednesday.

The alleged victim and a female companion were walking to their car in the Walmart parking lot when a man approached them and asked the man if he was Muslim or from the Middle East. Surveillance video shows the man being shot at close range with a pellet gun. The perpetrator reportedly shouted the racial slur "n**ger with a white girl" during the attack.

Following release of the surveillance video and still photographs of the alleged attacker, law enforcement authorities received several tips. Quinnell has been charged with aggravated battery.

SEE: Arrest Made in Suspected Hate Crime
http://tinyurl.com/bklpe4k

CAIR: Video Shows Fla. Shooting of Man Asked About Being Muslim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU8b5VW7pP4

Yesterday, CAIR-FL offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in the shooting. Authorities say eight tips came in within one hour of CAIR's reward offer.

SEE: CAIR Offers $1,000 Reward in Hate Crime at Pasco Walmart
http://tinyurl.com/a9dqq6p

"We welcome the arrest of a suspect in this troubling case and thank local law enforcement authorities for their prompt and professional actions," said CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Hassan Shibly.

Shibly also thanked the media for publicizing the surveillance video and the community for responding with information about the suspect.

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad noted that the group national office offered a $10,000 reward last year for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the arson fire that destroyed the Islamic Society of Joplin in Joplin, Mo.

"We hope that successes similar to that of the arrest in the Walmart shooting incident can be achieved in cases such as the Joplin mosque fire," said Awad.

SEE: CAIR Offers $10K Reward After Mo. Mosque Destroyed by Fire
http://tinyurl.com/axxtrsl

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization has initiated educational efforts to challenge growing Islamophobia nationwide.

Video: CAIR Bus Ads Help Teach What 'Jihad' Really Means
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw2Jv7Kbwfk  

CAIR: 'My Jihad' Ad Campaign Launched on SF Buses
http://tinyurl.com/a9gtf7t

Video: The Islamophobia Machine - An Interview with CAIR's Nadhira Al-Khalili
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAm5ezGMl-Y  

CAIR: Media Urged to Drop Term 'Islamist' in New Year
http://tinyurl.com/ajuzlhw

CAIR-LA: 'Deception' Film Promotes Intolerance of Islam
http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/emerson-382418-muslim-muslims.html  

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Hassan Shibly, 813-541-4321, [email protected]; CAIR-South Florida Executive Director Nezar Hamze, 954-673-9459, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)