In the middle of Ramadan, a Phoenix mosque was targeted early Saturday morning when a man fired a paintball gun at community members gathered outside, prompting a police response and swift condemnation from local and state officials.
Phoenix police arrived around 2:30 a.m. after reports of shots from what witnesses first thought was a BB gun. No one was injured, but several parked cars were left with dents, and one had a shattered window.
The suspect fled in a vehicle after the brief assault, and officers have launched a search.
The incident disrupted a group of about 50 teens and young adults finishing a sports night at the mosque.
Mosque member Djenis Burekovic described the shock to AZ Family: “It definitely puts into perspective that there are some people that are hateful toward our community still, even though it is 2026 and you’d think that everybody is more understanding of different world views.”
Arizona Leaders Respond
Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) posted on X that “no one should be afraid to walk into their place of worship. We stand with Arizona’s Muslim community and will not tolerate hate or violence in our state.”
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego (D-AZ) echoed his remarks, writing on X, “Hate has no place in our city.”
In a statement, she informed that “there was an aggravated assault and vandalism at one of Phoenix's mosques. Hate has no place in our city, and the person who did this will be brought to justice. I've been in touch with our Police Chief and will continue to monitor the situation. And I continue to wish our Muslim neighbors a blessed holy month of Ramadan.”
The event unfolds against U.S.-Iran tensions, but police haven't linked the mosque incident to international conflicts.
With Ramadan drawing to a close next week, many in Arizona's Muslim community are left wondering whether incidents like this are becoming a troubling new reality.
