Mutahir Rauf / Submitted photo
BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times
Loyola University students and friends Saturday were reeling over the death of a 23-year-old pre-med student from Pakistan who was shot and killed during an attempted robbery near the Rogers Park campus.
Authorities said Mutahir Rauf was with his brother in the 1200 block of West Albion Avenue when two males walked up, showed a weapon and demanded his belongings about 7:50 p.m. Friday.
At least one of the males opened fire, striking the man in his chest and head, police said.
Rauf, of the 1400 block of West Pratt Boulevard, was pronounced dead at 8:08 p.m. according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Rauf was walking with his brother when they were approached by the males and were shown the gun, 49th Ward alderman Joe Moore said in a post on EveryBlock.com. Rauf thought the weapon was fake and tried to reach for it, Moore said. He was later shot during a scuffle.
Luigi Loizzo, a junior at Loyola, had taken an organic class with Rauf over the summer.
Loizzo lives just 200 feet where the incident took place.
“It’s pretty scary that I have to look over my shoulder every time I walk outside,” said Loizzo, 20, of suburban Addison.
“To know that someone was shot point blank so close to where I’m taking classes is not a very comfortable feeling.”
Loizzo said he didn’t know Rauf very well but said he was a “very nice and respectful.”
Rauf, who was born in Pakistan, received his BA from Northwestern University and was taking graduate courses at Loyola, friends said.
“Mutahir was very near and dear to his community. His loss is a tragedy and we’re all deeply saddened,” Rauf’s friends from Northwestern said in a statement.
“He was a bright student at Northwestern who was continuing his studies at Loyola before pursuing a medical degree.”
One friend who didn’t want his name used said Rauf was loyal. “If you were friends with him, he had your back completely,” the man told the Sun-Times.
Rauf’s brother who was with him when he was murdered is also a student at Loyola, Loizzo said.
Loizzo was studying at the library Friday night but his friends who were going to a comedy improv show heard screams and saw a couple tending to Rauf and his brother who was “hysterical.”
Loizzo said one of his friends who stumbled upon the crime scene stopped a rape from occurring a few months ago, so he and other students are well aware of the dangers in the neighborhood.
“There’s a lot of crime here, but it’s usually gang related. To know this happened to a student hits really close to home,” Loizzo said.
Rauf will be buried in Pakistan, a friend said.
Officials Loyola are planning a moment of silence Saturday evening at the University’s Lessons and Carols event at the Madonna della Strada Chapel.
On Sunday, a prayer for Mutahir will be said after the 10: 30 a.m. mass at the chapel. A walk in Rauf’s honor will follow.
Loyola students have been asked to gather at the Mundelein Center Auditorium at 3 p.m. Wednesday to remember Rauf and pray for non-violence.
-- Contributing: Reema Amin