Arrest made in deadly shooting at Tampa mosque
TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - Investigators have arrested the man accused of fatally shooting another man in the parking lot of a Tampa mosque back in May.
The shooting occurred in the early morning hours of May 20 at the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay mosque on E. Sligh Avenue.
According to deputies, there had been an argument between the men just before the shooting. Family members identified the victim as Rafat Saeed. Both of them were members of the mosque
On Friday, the sheriff's office issued an arrest warrant for the shooter, 40-year-old MD Rakibul Haque. He turned himself in on Saturday and faces a charge of second-degree murder.
Saeed's widow attended the first appearance and, with the help of an interpreter, asked the judge to keep Haque in custody.
Instead of setting no bond, the judge ordered a $250,000 bond; $50,000 over the state recommendation.
If Haque makes bail he is to have no contact with any witnesses to the shooting, or any of Saeeds family. He is also ordered to stay away from the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay.
Haque's attorney says his client has already surrendered his passport to a bail bondsman, and the gun used during the shooting has been turned over to investigators.
The family of Saeed filed a civil lawsuit against the mosque and Haque shortly after the shooting. Their suit alleges that Haque was a volunteer security guard who was not trained in crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.