By Raul Castillo
30 Oct 2023, 2:41 PM EDT
A 52-year-old pediatrician, Dr. Talat Jehan Khan, died violently outside her home in Conroe, Texas, on Saturday. The victim was fatally stabbed by a 24-year-old man, identified as Miles Fridrich, in an incident that has raised concerns about a possible hate crime, according to local media reports.
The events occurred around 12:30 pm in the common area of the Alys apartment complex. Dr. Khan was sitting at a picnic table, chatting on the phone with her dog. According to witnesses, the attacker suddenly appeared and attacked her in the presence of neighbors and children, Fox News reported.
One of the witnesses, Matthew Amador, recounted his experience, stating that the attacker took the victim’s pulse before stabbing her. The quick response of Amador and other neighbors allowed police to capture the suspect minutes later.
“The perpetrator was taking his pulse, which was really bad. I saw him taking her pulse and then he stabbed her three times. Then when I yelled ‘Hey,’ he turned around, looked at me and then ran,” Amador said. “I have never seen evil like that in my life.”
The reason is unknown
So far, authorities have not revealed the motive behind this tragic murder or confirmed whether it is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
Dr. Khan, a devout Muslim, had recently moved from Seattle to the Houston metropolitan area with her 14-year-old daughter and was working at Texas Children’s Pediatrics. According to her family, her life revolved around her family and her patients, Fox News reported.
Dr. Khan’s older brother, Wajahat Nyaz, shared that his sister moved to the south due to the region’s sunny climate. The family is devastated by the loss of a person described as loving, kind and strong in his faith.
Miles Fridrich, the alleged attacker, is being held at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of first-degree murder. Both the Conroe Police Department and the Montgomery County District Attorney had no immediate comment.
Possible hate crime
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Houston has expressed concern about a possible hate crime. They assure that they are in contact with the authorities. The organization has launched its own investigation and has urged the community to be alert and pray for the victim’s family at this difficult time.
“While the police have not revealed the motive for the murder, we want to assure everyone that we are in discussions with the authorities. We are not sure at this time if this was a hate crime; However, given the tragic circumstances, we are paying close attention to the investigation,” they said from CAIR.
Additionally, Conroe’s Al-Sahaba Mosque has highlighted the need for awareness about hate crimes, which have been on the rise recently. They have urged the community to take precautions in their daily activities in the face of this sad reality.
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