Police have identified the victim of Monday’s homicide outside a Halifax mall as 16-year-old Ahmad Maher Al Marrach.
Officers were called to the scene at a parking lot next to the Halifax Shopping Centre just after 5 p.m. on Monday. The injured teen was taken to hospital, where he died.
Halifax Regional Police said Tuesday they have released two youths who were arrested on a Halifax Transit bus in the area of North Street about 20 minutes after the initial call. Neither has been charged in the case.
Police have not said how Al Marrach died.
Ummah Masjid and Community Centre said on Facebook that a funeral prayer would be held Wednesday afternoon at a Halifax-area mosque, followed by a burial.
“Please pray for the family, his loved ones and all our youth as it’s a devastating loss for all in the community,” reads the online post.
Al Marrach, a student at Citadel High School, moved to Canada eight years ago as a Syrian refugee.
In an email to the school community on Tuesday, Citadel principal Joe Morrison offered his condolences to the student’s family, whom he said gave him permission to share the news.
“Please join us in honouring the student who lost their life this week and hold their family in your thoughts,” said Morrison.
He said supports were being made available at the school, including counselors, a psychologist and support staff.
“We know it’s important to talk during times of grief and sadness. I assure you that we are ready and available to support any student who needs to connect,” he said.
The youth’s death was also acknowledged by Halifax Mayor Mike Savage on Tuesday. He held a moment of silence at the beginning of council’s regional meeting.
“We’ll be thinking of the family of the young man who was killed yesterday in Halifax,” he said just before councillors and members of the public bowed their heads and stood in silence for a few minutes.
Police are asking anyone with information or video from the area to call them at 902-490-5020.
