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