A Syrian refugee living in Canada was arrested for the 2017 killing of a teenager whose body was found in a secluded area of a park outside Vancouver, a report said Monday.

Ibrahim Ali, 28, was apprehended at home on Friday and charged with first degree murder for the slaying of 13-year-old Marrisa Shen, according to the Vancouver Sun.

Ali came to Canada as a Syrian refugee 17 months ago and was a “permanent resident” living in Burnaby, police said.

But according to The Sun, the Immigration and Refugee Board was unable to find Ali’s refugee records.

Chris Friesen, director of the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia, said he did not recognize Ali’s name, the paper said.

The 13-year-old Shen never returned home on July 18, 2017.

Cops tracked her phone to a wooded area in Burnaby’s Central Park, where her dead body was discovered.

The girl’s family released a statement that said they “hope that justice will now be served and that Marrisa can finally be at peace in heaven.”</s>A Syrian refugee living in Canada was arrested in the murder of a 13-year-old girl, who was found dead in a park last year just months after her alleged killer came to the country.

Ibrahim Ali, 28, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Marrisa Shen, authorities announced Monday. Shen was reported missing July 19, 2017, and her body was discovered the next day in Burnaby’s central park, located about 7 miles south of Vancouver, CBC reported.

"We still believe this crime was a random act," Donna Richardson, superintendent with the Integrated Homicide Investigative Team, said during a news conference. "As far as motive is concerned...I am not able to discuss these matters in order to protect future judicial procedures."

Police did not reveal how Shen died, or if she was sexually assaulted.

Richardson said Ali came onto the radar of investigators about two weeks ago when new evidence emerged.

"I'm not going to say there was a key piece of evidence, it was culmination of a number of things," she said.

Ali has been living in Canada as a refugee for 18 months. He came to the country with other family members in March 2017, four months before Shen was found dead.

St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church in Vancouver had helped Ali through the private refugee sponsorship program, which allows groups or individuals to support refugees to come to the country, CBC reported. The group or individual agrees to provide assistance, such as housing, for the refugee.

The church’s lead minister, Dan Chambers, said in a statement to CBC News that the church is cooperating with police in the murder investigation.

"We have nothing to say publicly as this is before the courts," Chambers said in the statement. "The church will co-operate with the police, and we are keeping everyone involved in this in mind, hearts and prayers."</s>A man has been arrested and charged in the death of Burnaby teen Marrisa Shen, Postmedia has confirmed.

Ibrahim Ali, 28, is charged with first-degree murder in Shen’s July 2017 death, according to Cpl. Frank Jang with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

The 13-year-old Burnaby girl was reported missing after she failed to return home by 11 p.m. on July 18, 2017. Police launched a search, using GPS to track her phone. In the early morning hours of July 19, 2017, Shen’s body was found in Burnaby’s Central Park.

Soon after, investigators said the murder appeared to be random.

Ali has a court record that includes fraud, dangerous driving, resisting arrest, firearms, and assault causing bodily harm. In 2016, Ali was charged with dangerous driving causing death and fleeing the accident scene.

Ali is expected in Vancouver Provincial Court on Friday at 9:30 a.m.

IHIT will host a news conference at 10 a.m. on Monday at their Surrey headquarters to share further details.

More to come.
• One year later and police still have no suspect in Marrisa Shen’s murder</s>​Members of B.C.'s Syrian community say they are concerned the announcement of Ibrahim Ali's murder charge for the death of Marrisa Shen — and Ali's status as a former refugee — could lead to unwarranted backlash.

Police on Monday announced that Ali, 28, has been charged for killing Shen. They described him as a man with no criminal record who arrived in Canada 17 months ago as a refugee from Syria.

Those details caused concern for people like Danny Ramadan, who came to Vancouver from Syria four years ago, himself a refugee.

The acclaimed novelist and LGBTQ activist said for people in his community there is already fear of being vilified for one man's alleged crime.

"The saddest thing is mostly [I've] heard from other Syrians who are extremely shocked by what happened," Ramadan said.

"They're worried that, while they're trying their best to build a beautiful home for themselves here, this is a new challenge they may have to add to their plate of many challenges they are facing at the moment."

Rahim Othman with the Syrian-Canadian Council of B.C. said there have already been negative comments surfacing on social media.

"This incident is an isolated incident," Othman said of the allegations. "It's unfortunate that there are sick and criminal people out there and these people can come from any community."

His group will be lighting candles for Marrisa Shen Friday morning outside Vancouver provincial court where Ali is expected to appear.

Immigrants less likely to commit crime

Refugee and immigrant advocacy group Mosaic expressed its condolences for the Shen family while also expressing concern that media coverage is focusing too much on Ali's status as a former refugee.

"The focus on immigration status will negatively impact support for refugees, and erode the goodwill and generosity that the majority of Canadians have for this vulnerable population," a statement from the organization read.

"Ibrahim Ali is accused of a terrible crime, but if he is guilty, he is not representative of all refugees, nor of all Syrians.

"It has been shown that immigrants are statistically less likely to commit crimes than others, but as in everything else, there are always exceptions."

None of the allegations against Ali have been tested in court.</s>Ibrahim Ali had come as a refugee from Syria 17 months ago

Marrisa Shen, 13, was killed in Burnaby’s Central Park in July 2017. (Police handout)

Canada’s Syrian community has reached out to head off any incoming backlash, a day after a refugee from that country was charged in the death of a 13-year-old B.C. girl.

“At this moment of deep sadness, we earnestly join all Canadians in mourning and hope that this terrible incident won’t result in a backlash against refugees,” Tareq Hadhad, who runs a Syrian-Canadian chocolate company, said on Twitter.

Ibrahim Ali, 28, of Burnaby has been charged with first-degree murder after Marrisa Shen was killed in a Burnaby park in July 2017.

Ali came to Canada as a Syrian refugee about four months before Marrisa’s death, police said. He had become a permanent resident, with no criminal record.

The charges have caused a stir on social media, with racial slurs and epithets hurled against refugees.

Investigators also said there was no evidence that religious ideology played any part in the killing.

“The Syrian community in Canada join their fellow Canadians today in shock and condemnation of the despicable homicide of young Marrisa Shen,” read a letter issued Monday afternoon from a group of prominent Syrian Canadians and refugee advocates.

They also expressed sympathy to Marrisa’s family and thanks to the police for tracking down Ali.

The Syrian community in Vancouver will be lighting candles for Marrisa at the provincial courthouse on Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Ali is expected to appear in court at that time.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.</s>Ibrahim Ali had come as a refugee from Syria 17 months ago

In the day since a man who came to Canada as a refugee was charged in the death of a 13-year-old B.C. girl, the Syrian Canadian community has reached out to head off any incoming backlash.

“At this moment of deep sadness, we earnestly join all Canadians in mourning and hope that this terrible incident won’t result in a backlash against refugees,” said Peace by Chocolate founder Tareq Hadhad.

Hadhad, who runs a Syrian Canadian chocolate company in Nova Scotia, isn’t the only one worried.

On Monday, 28-year-old Ibrahim Ali of Burnaby was charged with first-degree after Marrisa Shen was killed in a Burnaby park last July.

Ali came to Canada as a Syrian refugee about four months before Marrisa’s death, police told reporters at a news conference announcing the charges.

Since then, homicide investigators said he had become a permanent resident who was working in Canada. Ali had no criminal record.

Supt. Donna Richardson said that there was no evidence that religious ideology played any part in the killing.

“I think by and large, our refugees who come to the country are hardworking citizens that are very happy to be in Canada,” Richardson said.

“I would just hope that we look at this incident for what it is: a one-off situation.”

A group of prominent Syrian Canadians and refugee advocates issued a letter Monday afternoon, expressing sympathy to Marrisa’s family and thanks to the police for tracking down Ali.

“The Syrian community in Canada join their fellow Canadians today in shock and condemnation of the despicable homicide of young Marrisa Shen,” the letter read.

“We also share in the grief and sorrow of her family.”

In Vancouver, the Syrian community will be lighting candles for Marrisa at the provincial courthouse on Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Ali is expected to appear in court at that time.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.</s>A group of prominent Syrian-Canadians has released a statement on behalf of their community after a Syrian refugee was arrested for the “despicable” murder of Vancouver-area schoolgirl Marrisa Shen, 13, telling her family that “our hearts go out to you”.

The statement, signed by 16 Syrian-Canadians, including academics, business figures, and political figures, also pleaded against a “backlash” on other refugees.

It was issued in response to the police announcement on Monday that Ibrahim Ali, 28, had been charged with murdering Shen, who was killed just three months after Ali arrived in Canada. The schoolgirl’s killing stunned the region when her body was found in a Burnaby, British Columbia, park in July 2017, sparking a vast 14-month manhunt.

“The Syrian community in Canada join their fellow Canadians today in shock and condemnation of the despicable homicide of young Marrisa Shen,” the statement said. “We also share in the grief and sorrow of her family. Our hearts go out to you.”

Syrian refugee Ibrahim Ali is charged with murder of Vancouver schoolgirl Marrisa Shen



On Monday, Superintendent Donna Richardson, the head of the Vancouver region’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, addressed the potential for a backlash after announcing Ali’s arrest for the murder of the daughter of Chinese immigrants.

Richardson described refugees, generally, as “hardworking citizens who are very happy to be in Canada”, and said she hoped that others would see “this incident for what it is: a one-off situation”.

Monday’s statement by the Syrian Canadian community members – issued in English, French and Arabic – thanked police for their efforts to investigate “this horrible act”, and said Ali should face justice with “the full force of the law”.

“At this moment of deep sadness, we earnestly join all Canadians in mourning and hope this terrible incident won’t result in a backlash against refugees.”

It said the Syrian community would be lighting candles for Shen in front of the Vancouver Provincial Court where Ali is due to make his first appearance on Friday, adding “everyone is welcome to join”.

Signatories included author Danny Ramadan, Sam Nammoura of the Canadian Syrian Centre, chocolatier Tareq Hadhad, and Mustafa Alio, co-founder of the Refugee Career Jumpstart project in Toronto.

Police said Ali was a Syrian national and permanent resident of Canada, who had family members in the country. Richardson did not respond when asked whether Ali came to Canada on a private or government sponsorship, under Canada’s two-stream asylum system. He had no criminal record in Canada.

The hunt for Shen’s killer was one of the biggest manhunts in British Columbia’s history, involving 300 officers at its peak. More than 2,000 persons of interest were investigated and ruled out, before Ali came to the attention of officers two weeks ago. Richardson would not say how he fell under investigators’ spotlight.

She said Shen and Ali did not know each other, and police “still believe this crime was a random act”.</s>A 14-year-old was arrested and charged in the rape and murder of an 83-year-old woman who died Aug. 30, Baltimore Police announced at a press conference Friday.Tyrone Harvin was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree rape, and various sexual offenses in the death of Dorothy Mae Neal, said police spokesman T.J. Smith.

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14-Year-Old Charged With Rape And Murder Of 83-Year-Old was originally published on wolbbaltimore.com</s>SURREY, B.C. — A man has been charged with murdering a 13-year-old girl whose body was found in a Metro Vancouver park over a year ago in a crime that caused people in the community to feel unsafe, police said Monday.

Marrisa Shen was last seen in the evening of July 18, 2017. When she didn’t return home, her mother called police, and officers found her body in a wooded area of Central Park in Burnaby early the next morning.

On Monday, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced Ibrahim Ali, 28, had been charged with first-degree murder, two weeks after police became aware of him.

Supt. Donna Richardson, the officer in charge of the team, said Ali is a Syrian national who moved to Burnaby as a refugee 17 months ago. She said the permanent resident of Canada is employed and has family in Canada but she couldn’t provide any other details pending the judicial process for the man who is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Friday.

None of the allegations in the case have been tested in court.

Richardson said the investigation that involved 600 interviews and the elimination of over 2,000 persons of interest was one of the largest in the history of the team since its formation in 2003.

“We still believe this crime was a random act, meaning that Marrisa did not know the suspect and vice versa,” Richardson told a news conference, adding the investigation involved multiple RCMP detachments and municipal police forces.

Chief Supt. Deanne Burleigh, the officer in charge of the Burnaby RCMP detachment, offered condolences to Shen’s family.

“While I understand that there is some relief at the announcement of an arrest I am mindful of the devastating loss that they have suffered since the day of Marrisa’s murder,” Burleigh said.

“To our community in Burnaby I want to express my gratitude for your patience,” she said.

“Throughout this investigation Marrisa’s murder shook our community and it questioned the safety of the park. We have, and we continue to conduct, high visibility patrols on foot, on bikes and in our vehicles to ensure everyone can continue to feel safe in our parks.”

Shen’s family thanked the public for their ongoing support in a statement read by Cpl. Frank Jang of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

“We are aware that so many people reached out to the police to provide information and we are so grateful for that,” the family said as they asked for privacy.

“We hope that justice will now be served and that Marrisa can finally be at peace in heaven.”

Shen was seen on security video entering a Tim Hortons about 10 minutes after she left home at 6 p.m. and she was last seen around 7:30 p.m. walking near the coffee shop. Shen’s mother reported her missing at 11:30 p.m. and the girl’s body was found 90 minutes later, police have said.

Her family has said the girl planned to travel and visit friends in China the summer she was killed.

A year after her death, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team held a news conference near the wooded area where Shen’s body was found as Jang appealed for help from the public and said police had no suspects despite following up on 200 tips.</s>A 28-year-old Syrian refugee has been charged with murder after the body of a 13-year-old Burnaby girl was found in a park last summer.

Ibrahim Ali, of Burnaby, is accused of first-degree murder in connection with the slaying of Marrisa Shen in Central Park on July 18, 2017.

Ali had moved to Canada just four months before Marrisa was killed, Integrated Homicide Investigation Team Supt. Donna Richardson said Monday.

“We still believe that this crime was a random act, meaning that Marrisa did not know the suspect,” said Richardson.

“As far as motive is concerned… I am not able to discuss those matters in order to protect our future judicial proceedings.”

IHIT Cpl. Frank Jang read out a statement from the Shen family, thanking police, the media and the public for their help in the 14 months since Marrisa’s death.

“We hope that justice will now be served and that Marrisa can finally be at peace in heaven,” Jang said.

READ MORE: Family thanks public 1 year after girl, 13, mysteriously killed in Burnaby park

READ MORE: One year later: Still no suspects in killing of 13-year-old B.C. girl

Police first became aware of Ali two weeks ago. He does not have a criminal record or evidence of mental illness and is currently a permanent resident.

He was arrested in Burnaby last Friday, after a massive investigation.

“More than 1,300 residents in the area surrounding Central Park were canvassed, over 600 interviews were conducted, over 2,000 persons of interest were identified and over 1,000 hours of video were collected from more than 60 locations,” Richardson said.

There is no evidence that religious ideology played any part in the killing, she said, adding she hoped the charge would not create backlash against the region’s refugees.

“I think by and large, our refugees who come to the country are hardworking citizens that are very happy to be in Canada,” she said.

“I would just hope that we look at this incident for what it is: a one-off situation.”

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Ibrahim Ali, a 28-year old Syrian refugee living in Canada, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Marrisa Shen.