Civil Rights Group Claims Lakewood Teen was Shot Because of his Muslim Faith

LAKEWOOD, OH — A 16-year-old Lakewood teenager was shot in his left arm last Saturday after a heated verbal exchange possibly involving the Lakewood High School student's Muslim faith. The shooting occurred near the 1300 block of West Clifton Boulevard just before 11 p.m. The teen was transported to MetroHealth Hospital where he was treated and released.

A description of the suspect led police to Denzel Johnson, 26 also of Lakewood. Johnson was arrested and charged with felonious assault.

According to a news release, the Lakewood High School student told CAIR-Cleveland, a local Muslim civil rights group, that he was walking home from his part-time job when Johnson called him a "terrorist" and a “Taliban b---h” before shooting him and fleeing.

The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says that at the time of the shooting, the teen was wearing a traditional Islamic head covering called a Kufi.

“According to the alleged victim, there are clear indicators that this crime was motivated by ethnic and religious hatred, and we believe it should be investigated with that possible bias motive in mind.

“We call on law enforcement authorities to investigate this case as a possible hate crime and for the prosecutor to request that bail be denied and for any and all sentencing enhancements be sought under the state law,” said Julia Shearson, executive director with CAIR-Cleveland.

CAIR's national office points out that there has been an increase in incidents targeting American Muslims and other minority groups since the Nov. 8 presidential election and is urging the nation’s leaders to repudiate growing Islamophobia.

At this time, the Lakewood Police are not considering the incident a hate crime; Capt. Edward Hassing of the Lakewood Police Department told Patch that the teen was shot because the suspect said he felt threatened.

Photo by Rick Uldricks/Patch