Son Charged in Killing of Oshawa man
On Monday, October 20, DRPS announced the arrest of 42-year-old Sohaib Bala of Oshawa — the son of the victim — who has been charged with second-degree murder.
A sad and shocking incident has rocked the local Muslim community in Oshawa.
An 80-year-old man, Ibrahim Bala, was fatally injured just minutes after leaving his place of worship, and his son has now been charged in relation to the death.
According to the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS), officers responded to a call regarding “unknown trouble” on Thursday, October 16, at approximately 4:20 p.m. in the area of McGrigor Street and Simcoe Street South in Oshawa.
Upon arrival, they found a male with “obvious signs of trauma.”
Life-saving efforts were attempted, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. (Iqra.ca)
Subsequent investigation revealed that the victim had left the nearby Islamic Centre of Oshawa (ICO) just a few minutes earlier.
The police say that the killing occurred in very close proximity to the mosque.
On Monday, October 20, DRPS announced the arrest of 42-year-old Sohaib Bala of Oshawa — the son of the victim — who has been charged with second-degree murder.
He was taken into custody at a residence near Thornton Road North and Adelaide Avenue West without incident, and was held for a bail hearing.
In a statement released on October 20, the Islamic Centre of Oshawa expressed deep sorrow, stating:
“A very dear community brother lost his life around the premises of the masjid. Please keep the family of our beloved brother in your duas (prayers).”
They added:
“Mental health does not discriminate based on religion, ethnicity, age or gender. We strongly advocate for families to access the available mental health resources to help ensure that a tragedy of this nature never happens again.”
The death has deeply shaken the local congregation.
Community members described the victim as a kind-hearted elder, committed to his faith and often present at the mosque.
The sudden nature of the tragedy, in such a familiar and sacred setting, has left many in shock and searching for answers.
While the investigation is ongoing, police have appealed for any community residents who were in the area between approximately 2:30 p.m. and 4:20 p.m. on the day of the incident to come forward with surveillance footage (dash-cam or cellphone video) or any information that may assist investigators.
No motive has been publicly released at this time, and it remains unclear whether mental-health issues were involved.
The case will proceed through the legal system, and DRPS has assigned its homicide unit to the investigation.
The Islamic Centre of Oshawa stated that it will continue to support the family, the victim’s children and grandchildren, and the broader congregation during this extremely difficult time, calling for unity, prayer, and compassion within the community.