US police investigating the death of Saudi student Yasser Abu Al Faraj in Miami released on Tuesday a sketch of a man they believe was behind the grisly murder.
Help us locate the pictured individual, wanted for questioning, regarding a suspicious incident in the area of 6580 Santona Street. Anyone with information is urged to contact #MDPD Detective B. Jurado at (305) 471-2400 or @CrimeStopper305 at (305) 471-8477. pic.twitter.com/VqkzmOPeUG
— Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) October 9, 2018
Abu Al Faraj, 23, was found with multiple stab wounds in his off-campus apartment on Sunday by his roommate, according to the Miami Herald newspaper.
The sketch shows a slim man with long, blonde hair wearing a dark cap.
The Miami-Dade Police Department's statement said the man was observed at the condo on Sunday morning before Abu Al-Faraj’s body was found.
Reward
Police have also announced a reward of $3,000 for anyone who can come forward with information.
Yasser Abu Al-Faraj, from Jeddah, was studying architecture in the University of Miami since 2015.
In a statement to Al Arabiya, the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said it has been informed about the incident and is following up the investigation, while providing all the necessary support to his family.
@SaudiinUSA Twitter account posted a picture of Yasser commenting “Saudi student, Yasser Talal Abu Al-Faraj, 23-year-old, passed away in his apartment. Investigations showed that he was killed. May God have mercy on him and grant his family patience and courage. American police began to deal with the case as a murder.”
انتقل إلى رحمة الله الشاب المبتعث “ياسر طلال ابو الفرج” ٢٣ عاماً، في شقته وبعد التحري والتحقيقات من السلطات الامريكية أتضح انها جريمة قتل، راجين الله أن يرحمه ويدخله جناته ويلهم أهله الصبر والسلوان، وبدأت الشرطة الامريكية في التحقيقات وجمع المعلومات، وتتعامل مع القضية كجريمة قتل. pic.twitter.com/w9WN2IDuOq
— سعوديون في أمريكا (@saudiinusa) October 9, 2018
All architecture classes have been cancelled on Monday, while University published a statement saying: “The University is deeply saddened by this tragic news, and has made grief counselors and support staff available to the UM community through the Counseling Center.”
A vigil was held for Yasser on Tuesday night in the courtyard of the architecture school.
Dozens of people gathered to remember @univmiami student Yasser Abualfaraj tonight. More about his legacy and how he is being remembered, upcoming on @MiamiHurricane. pic.twitter.com/KufuNOwol6
— Tommy Fletcher (@TommyFletcherTV) October 10, 2018
“A member of our community passed away, and we are taking time to grieve and take care of each other,” dean of Architectture Department Rodolphe El-Khoury said to the university’s student newspaper The Miami Hurricane.
On his Instagram profile bio, Yasser described himself as “Architect in the making.”
Straight A student
His colleague, Josh Kaufman, told media that he “was the nicest kid I've honestly ever met. [He] didn't do anything wrong, held his values, straight-A student."
“All of our classmates and study mates that hung out with him are going to be remembering him always, and his work,” architecture student Emily Fusilero told the university paper.
“Hopefully, some of his work can stay around so we can see the things that he’s made.”
