Members of Fremont’s Muslim community packed into a forum style meeting last night to talk about last month’s fatal shooting of Alia Ansari.

The community is still reeling from the shooting, which took place in broad daylight as Ansari walked with her 3-year-old daughter to pick up her children from school.

The Council on Organized Islamic Relations, or CAIR, organized the meeting in response to the Oct. 19 slaying. KCBS’ Mark Seelig spoke with the organization’s spokeswoman, Shazia Jafri.

"This is to provide the community with a platform for them to voice their concerns about the shooting that happened," she said.

Fremont Police Chief Craig Steckler was asked to take part. Seelig reports that while he did his best to relay the message that Fremont is an extremely safe place to live, he grew tight lipped when asked about the progress of the Ansari case.

"In a homicide case or any case, you get one try at the evidence. If you rush it you don't get another shot at it."

Ansari’s family asked police to treat the case as a hate crime. They believe Ansari was a target because of the traditional Muslim headscarf she was wearing. Steckler said it is too early to make that assumption. [Link]