The Council on American-Islamic Relations announced a $5,000 reward Tuesday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a gunman who shot a Muslim woman wearing a niqab. At the same time, she ran errands in Capitol Heights, Maryland, as the civil rights organization calls for federal hate crime investigations into what family members describe as an unprovoked attack targeting her religious identity.
The shooting occurred around 1 p.m. Monday in the 500 block of Ritchie Road when an unidentified assailant opened fire on the victim's minivan in a shopping center parking lot, striking the woman in her left arm before fleeing the scene. Prince George's County Police have not arrested a suspect and have not yet classified the incident as a hate crime, despite mounting pressure from the victim's family and civil rights advocates who argue her visible religious attire made her a target.
Family Describes Terrifying Attack on a Visibly Muslim Woman
The victim's brother provided harrowing details of the assault, explaining that his sister initially thought the attack was "a dream" until glass from her vehicle began shattering around her. "When the guy pointed the gun, she didn't even think it was real until the glass shattered," he told Fox 5 DC. The gunman appeared to aim for her head after the initial shot, forcing the woman to use her wounded left arm to protect herself.
"After she realized she was being shot at and got shot in her left arm, he seemed to want to aim for the head. So she started covering her head with her left side," the brother recounted. He credited his sister's quick thinking and courage for enabling her to duck and avoid more serious injury during what he described as a sustained attack.
Shattered glass from the victim's minivan remained visible in the parking lot where the incident occurred, serving as physical evidence of the violence. The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, but remains in shock from the traumatic experience.
CAIR Demands Federal Hate Crime Investigation
Zainab Chaudry, CAIR's Maryland director, emphasized the religious targeting aspect of the attack and called for a comprehensive federal investigation. "Because of the religious attire of the alleged victim, the growing racial and religious bigotry nationwide, and recent acts of politically-motivated violence, we urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate," CAIR stated in its official press release.
The organization specifically highlighted the victim's niqab—a traditional Islamic face veil—as evidence that she was targeted for her visible Muslim identity. "In this particular context, because this woman was visibly Muslim, she was wearing a face veil; it was a seemingly unprovoked attack," Chaudry explained to Fox 5 DC.
"Especially in this political climate where we're seeing a higher incidence of violence targeting minority communities and communities of diverse faiths and backgrounds," Chaudry emphasized the broader context of rising anti-Muslim incidents nationwide.
CAIR's statement demanded that authorities ensure "People of all faiths and backgrounds must be able to go about their daily business without fear of attack".
Attack Creates Fear Throughout Muslim Community
The shooting has generated widespread anxiety among Maryland's Muslim population, with CAIR reporting numerous calls from community members questioning their safety and considering changes to their religious practices. "It doesn't just affect the victim; it also affects the broader community," Chaudry noted.
"Our office has received numerous calls from community members who are now questioning whether they should change the way they dress or the way they go about their daily routine," Chaudry explained to Fox 5 DC. She emphasized that "Nobody should ever have to feel like they have to change who they are or what they're doing just because they're fearful for their safety".
The victim's family expressed concerns that the attack could escalate if the perpetrator remains at large. "We want the perpetrator to be apprehended and brought to justice before he commits a more serious crime," the victim's brother stated. He warned that "This could have been his first mission. It was just one person this time. Who knows, maybe next time it will be on a larger scale. It could be anybody".
Rising Anti-Muslim Violence Nationwide
The Maryland shooting occurs amid documented surges in anti-Muslim hate crimes and incidents across the United States. CAIR's 2025 Civil Rights Report documented 8,658 complaints of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents in 2024—the highest number recorded since the organization began tracking in 1996, representing a 7.4% increase from 2023.
FBI data released in August 2025 showed 11,679 hate crime incidents nationwide in 2024, with religious bias accounting for 23.5% of single-bias incidents. Anti-Islamic hate crimes totaled 205 incidents in 2022, with nearly half involving intimidation and 25% involving assault, according to the most recent detailed FBI statistics.
The FBI's preliminary data from the Crime and Justice Research Alliance indicates an 18% rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes reported to law enforcement across 28 U.S. cities in 2024. However, experts warn these figures likely underrepresent the true scope since not all agencies are required to submit hate crime data.
Pattern of Attacks Against Visibly Muslim Women
The Capitol Heights shooting follows a disturbing pattern of attacks specifically targeting Muslim women wearing religious attire. Civil rights organizations have documented that hijabi women and children are particularly vulnerable, being easily identifiable as Muslim and frequently targeted in public spaces.
In May 2025, three Austin, Texas mosques were vandalized in a coordinated overnight attack, with the affected facilities serving over 60,000 practicing Muslims in Central Texas. CAIR-Austin reported that the Nueces Mosque alone experienced four separate hate incidents since October 2024.
The attacks have prompted increased security measures at Islamic institutions nationwide, with many facilities investing thousands of dollars in surveillance systems, overnight guards, and enhanced police patrols. Some mosques have been forced to modify their operations and community programming due to safety concerns.
Law Enforcement Response and Investigation Status
Prince George's County Police confirmed they are investigating the shooting but have not classified it as a hate crime at this time. The department's investigation includes interviewing witnesses and processing evidence from the scene, though no arrests have been made.
Maryland operates a hate crime hotline at 1-866-481-8361 for reporting bias-motivated incidents, while Prince George's County residents can contact the non-emergency police line at 301-352-1200. The county's Human Relations Commission also investigates discrimination cases and can be reached at 301-883-6170.
Under Maryland law, hate crimes are defined as offenses motivated by bias based on race, color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, or national origin. The state's Attorney General operates an online hate crime reporting portal and resource center.
Historical Context of CAIR Reward Programs
CAIR has a documented history of offering rewards to assist law enforcement in solving violent crimes against Muslim Americans. In 2020, the organization provided a $5,000 reward in the case of Rabiah Ahmad, a pregnant Muslim woman shot and killed in Howard County, Maryland, during Eid al-Adha.
Ahmad, who was 28 weeks pregnant, died after being shot once when multiple bullets were fired into her Columbia home. Her baby daughter, Ahja, was delivered but died five days later. While police found no evidence that the killing was racially motivated, CAIR provided support to the family and contributed to reward funds that eventually reached $20,000.
The organization has similarly offered rewards in other high-profile cases involving potential anti-Muslim violence, including a recent anti-Semitic attack case where CAIR contributed to reward funds despite the incident targeting Jewish victims.
Political Climate and Escalating Tensions
The shooting occurs against a backdrop of heightened political tensions affecting Muslim Americans nationwide. In August 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the State Department was reviewing potential terrorist designations for CAIR and other pro-Palestine advocacy groups, drawing sharp criticism from civil rights organizations.
Texas State Representative Salman Bhojani, the state's first Muslim legislator, has faced racist attacks and anti-Muslim harassment from colleagues, prompting CAIR to demand accountability from state leadership. The incidents reflect what experts describe as intensifying discrimination against Muslim Americans in political participation and civic engagement.
Recent months have also seen Texas conservative groups distribute anti-Muslim emails targeting Middle Eastern elected officials, with the True Texas Project questioning their presence in government positions and acknowledging critics would label the comments as bigoted.