On June 22, Army veteran Dustin Passarelli, a resident of Plainfield, Indiana, was sentenced to 55 years in prison for the road rage shooting death of 32-year-old Mustafa Ayoubi, a Muslim man, in February 2019. Passarelli was found guilty of murder and a felony firearm enhancement, NBC news reports.
Prosecutors explained that Passarelli followed Ayoubi off Interstate 465, and a heated exchange occurred between the two individuals. Witnesses reported that Passarelli directed ethnic and religious insults toward Ayoubi, including telling him to "Go back to your country." Passarelli then proceeded to open fire, fatally shooting Ayoubi.
In his statement to the police, Passarelli claimed that Ayoubi had either thrown something at his vehicle or collided with it on the highway. He further stated that, after following Ayoubi to an apartment complex, Ayoubi had shattered one of his car windows with a punch. Passarelli's defense argued that Passarelli was within his rights to fire at Ayoubi because it was self-defense.
Notably, Passarelli was not charged with a hate crime despite the Islamophobic remarks he made before the shooting. However, Indiana lawmakers responded to this tragic incident by passing a hate crimes bill six weeks later. The legislation included a provision that allows judges to impose longer sentences for crimes driven by bias.
Mustafa Ayoubi had arrived in the United States as a refugee from Afghanistan, seeking safety and a better life. His untimely death sparked outrage and highlighted the need for addressing hate crimes and promoting inclusivity and tolerance in society.
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