The son of an 80-year-old Oshawa man has been charged with his murder.
Durham Regional Police charged Sohaib Bala, 42, of Oshawa, with second-degree murder in the death of his father Ibrahim Bala .
Ibrahim’s slaying was Durham Region’s seventh homicide of the year.
On Monday at about 1:30 p.m., members from Durham Regional Police attended a residential address in the area of Thornton Rd. N. and Adelaide Ave. W. in Oshawa, where they arrested Sohaib without incident.
Ibrahim’s body was discovered on residential property Thursday at about 4:20 p.m. in the Mcgrigor St.-Simcoe St. S. area of Oshawa. Officers arrived at the scene and located a male with obvious signs of trauma.
The Islamic Centre of Oshawa confirmed Friday that Ibrahim was a member of the mosque.
“A very dear community brother lost his life around the premises of the masjid,” a statement released by the mosque said.
“Please keep the family of our beloved brother in your duas (prayers).”
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‘TRAGIC INCIDENT’
Durham Police Const. Nick Gluckstein told reporters Friday afternoon that Bala was a “beloved member of the community, a father, a husband, (and) he will definitely be missed.
“And we grieve with his family in these circumstances,” he said. ”Everyone that we’ve spoken to has said nothing but amazing things about this individual who was well-known, especially at the Islamic centre.”
Gluckstein confirmed that Ibrahim was at the mosque before his death and he was found beside it at a residential property with “very traumatic” injuries.
“This is a tragic incident,” Gluckstein said. “It shouldn’t happen to anybody. No family should have to grieve a loved one.”
