a Newark Imam who was shot outside his mosque on Wednesday morning has died according to law enforcement the Imam identified as Hassan Sharif was taken to university hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead shortly after 2 p.m. City officials say police responded to reports of a shooting at 6:15 a.m. at the mosque mashid Muhammad Newark at South Orange Avenue and Camden Street the police investigation into the shooting remains ongoing the shooting comes at a time when law enforcement agencies are warning of a surge in hate crimes Governor Phil Murphy said in a statement there was no evidence of motive for the shooting as of Wednesday afternoon but acknowledged the violence May heighten fears in the state's Islamic community he pledged that his administration would work to keep houses of worship safe