The three most recent killings occurred within two weeks, putting the city on edge as police investigated possible links between the attacks and put the spotlight on an unsolved homicide since November 2021. “While we are still combing through all the evidence to look for more connections, it is deeply troubling that these three men were Muslim and of a similar background,” said Albuquerque Police Department Criminal Investigations Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock. Police have not released a suspect or suspects in the killings. They have, however, said they are looking for “a vehicle of interest” that may be linked to the four murders. The vehicle is a dark silver Volkswagen Jetta or Passat type sedan with tinted windows. Here’s what we know about the murders and the investigation so far:

How were the murders done?

The most recent of the killings was reported Friday, when Naeem Hussain was found dead by Albuquerque police officers who responded to reports of a shooting just before midnight in the area of ​​Truman Street and Grand Avenue. After the discovery, Albuquerque police said the homicide “may be linked” to three previous killings of South Asian Muslim men. Those three men — Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, Aftab Hussein and Mohammad Ahmadi — were all “ambushed without warning, shot and killed,” Hartsock previously said. Two of them, Muhammad Afzaal Hussain and Aftab Hussein, were both Pakistani and were killed in southeast Albuquerque near Central Avenue. Police said they have “determined there is a connection” between these two deaths. Muhammad Afzaal Hussain was shot dead on 1 August. It was found on a sidewalk in the area of ​​Cornell Street and Lead Avenue. A few days earlier, on July 26, Aftab Hussain was found with apparent gunshot wounds in the 400 block of Rhode Island. He later died as a result of his injuries, according to police. As investigators investigated the recent killings, they turned their attention to the Nov. 7, 2021, homicide of Mohammad Ahmadi, a Muslim man from Afghanistan who was killed outside a business he and his brother ran on San Mateo Avenue.

Who are the victims?

Naeem Hussain immigrated as a refugee from Pakistan in 2016 — fleeing persecution as a Shia Muslim — and had just become a U.S. citizen last month, according to his brother-in-law, Ehsan Shahalami. He opened his own trucking business this year and was described as a kind, generous and hard-working man. On the day he was killed, he had attended a funeral for the two recent victims and expressed fear about the shootings, according to a spokesman for an Albuquerque mosque. Muhammad Afzaal Hussain worked on the planning team for the city of Española. He had studied law and human resources management at Punjab University in Pakistan before earning master’s and bachelor’s degrees in community and regional planning from the University of New Mexico, according to a news release from the mayor. “Muhammad was soft-spoken and kind and quick to laugh,” Mayor John Ramon Vigil said in a news release last Wednesday. “He was well-respected and well-liked by his colleagues and members of the community.” Few details have been released about the other two victims. Police said Mohammad Ahmadi was a Muslim from Afghanistan and Aftab Hussein was a Muslim from Pakistan.

Where is the research?

So far, police have released a flyer showing a “vehicle of interest” in all four murders. However, it remains unclear who owns the car or how they are potentially linked to the attacks. Police said the vehicle “is suspected to have been used as a means of transport in the recent murders of 4 Muslim men”. “We have a very, very strong lead. We have a vehicle that we are interested in … we have to find that vehicle,” Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said. “We do not know at this time what it is connected to or who owns it.” While police have not definitively said all four attacks are connected, they said they are looking into whether it is. “There is a strong commonality across all victims: race and religion,” Hartsock said at a Thursday briefing. Authorities are asking the public to come forward with any information that may help with the investigation. You can submit tips on the Albuquerque Metro CrimeStoppers website.

How are local and national leaders responding?

After Friday’s killing, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Saturday that she would send additional state police to Albuquerque. “I am angry and saddened that this is happening in New Mexico, a place that prides itself on diversity of culture and thought. This is not who we are,” Grisham said in a statement. “We will not stop in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their families, and we are using every means to catch the killer or killers — and we WILL find them.” The attacks also drew condemnation from President Joe Biden, who said he was “outraged and saddened” by the attacks. “While we await a full investigation, my prayers are with the families of the victims and my administration stands strongly with the Muslim community,” Biden tweeted. The city is now increasing its police presence at mosques, Muslim-affiliated schools and the University of New Mexico. “Albuquerque is on edge right now, and I want to be clear that we, and our partners across law enforcement, are directing every resource possible to these cases. We will protect our community and bring the perpetrator of these crimes to justice.” justice. unequivocally denounce these senseless killings and stand with our Muslim community against intolerance and violence in all its forms,” ​​Keller said. “We’ve heard from the community that the fear is so strong, there’s concern even about things like grocery stores and getting meals for certain people in certain areas of the city,” Keller said at a weekend briefing. “Our senior affairs department and community safety department will be providing meals for as long as we need, to anyone in need of a meal who is affected by this tragedy.” Meanwhile, local and national Muslim groups have warned residents to be cautious. “We urge everyone to take precautions and be aware of your surroundings, including making sure you are not being followed home and to avoid walking alone at night,” the Islamic Center of New Mexico wrote on Facebook. “This is especially true for our members who live in the southeast part of the city where these murders took place.” The center said that while there was no indication that its mosque was a target, it was still taking steps to provide additional security measures. “Albuquerque’s Muslim lives are at risk. Whoever is responsible for this horrific, hateful shooting spree must be identified and stopped — now,” said Council on American-Islamic Relations Deputy Director of National Affairs Edward Ahmed Mitchell. The council is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible, the organization said, calling the killing spree a “horrific, despicable shooting spree.” CNN’s Claudia Dominguez Ashley Killough contributed to this report.