October 6, 2016 by The Diamondback

The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper ONLINE AT

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107th

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Thursday, October 6, 2016

SANJE SRIPANJALINGAM, a senior electrical engineering major and vice president of the Pakistani Student Association, lights candles at the vigil for Farhad Siddique, who was killed last week. tom hausman/the diamondback

Murder-suicide stuns campus Univ student killed by father, police believe

Farhad Siddique remembered as ‘a gentle spirit’

by Prince George’s When Farhad C o u n t y P o l i c e Siddique spoke, Michael Brice-Saddler Carly Kempler and are investigating people around him @TheArtist_MBS Rachel Kuipers a domestic muralways listened. Senior staff writer @thedbk der-suicide that “He was just so Senior staff writers took place on the night of Sept. 28, acgentle, so, just, cording to tweets from Prince George’s calm and collected, and he only spoke County Police. if he had something of value to say,” Police were initially notified of said Sam Lewis, a senior mechanical a missing person at about 9 p.m., engineering major. “So many people prompting them to today just talk whatcanvass the area, they ever’s on their mind said. While searching — they’re just trying the 8100 block of 48th to make conversation. Avenue, police dis[When] he opened his covered the missing mouth, people would p e rs o n a s we l l a s stop talking.” another victim with Siddique, a Univergunshot wounds in a sity of Maryland junior parking lot near the physiology and neuParkside apartments. robiology major from The victim is 19-yearBel Air, died Sept. 28 old Farhad Siddique of in what police believe 48th Avenue, accordto be a murder-suicide ing to a news release involving his father, from Prince George’s Nasir Siddique. He was County Police. The FARHAD SIDDIQUE, a junior at this university, died Sept. 19 years old. suspect is 57-year-old 28 in an apparent murder-suicide, a day before his 20th For the campus and Nasir Siddique of the birthday. photo courtesy of the muslim students association surrounding commu-

1200 block of Mikara Court in Bel Air. Farhad Siddique was a junior at the University of Maryland. “The University of Maryland community is deeply saddened by the events that occurred last night,” university spokeswoman Crystal Brown wrote in a statement. “This is a tragedy that will be felt by our entire community. During this time of loss, we extend our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the victims.”

nity, Siddique’s death leaves a noticeable impact. “Our hearts are saddened by the loss of Farhad Siddique, a dear friend and brother to many in the University of Maryland community,” the Muslim Students Association wrote in a statement released Sept. 29. “He is remembered as a hardworking, compassionate individual who helped others in any way he could. May Allah grant him and his family Jannatul Firdous, the highest level of paradise.”

See crime, p. 6

See farhad, p. 6

Still questions in motive of veteran father by

by A retired U.S. Whenever Army officer is Farhad Siddique Andrew Dunn Talia Richman suspected of came home from @AndrewEDunn @TaliRichman killing his wife in class and walked Staff writer Senior staff writer Bel Air and his son into his apartment, — University of Maryland junior Farhad he lit up the place, his roommates said. Siddique — in College Park before taking He kept his friends laughing through his own life on Sept. 28, police said. late-night food runs and basketball games Police identified Nasir Sidat Eppley Recreation Center, and was dique, 57, as the suspect, calling always dependable, said senior bioengithe case a domestic neering major Arman murder-suicide. Khan, who lived with Officials found Nasir Siddique this semesand Farhad Siddique ter. So when Siddique dead on the scene in a stopped answering his red Jeep parked near friends’ calls last week, the Parkside ApartKhan said he knew ments near the 8100 “something was going block of 48th Avenue, on.” and found Nasir SidSiddique, a junior at dique’s wife Zarqa Sidthe University of Marydique dead in a bathtub land, was killed Sept. in their Bel Air home, 28 — the day before his with a gunshot wound 20th birthday. Police to the head. believe his father, The Prince George’s Nasir Siddique, killed County Police and NASIR SIDDIQUE, left, is believed by police to have killed his wife, 48-year-old Harford County Sheriff’s his wife, Zarqa Siddique, right; his son, Farhad Siddique; Zarqa Siddique of Bel then himself. photo courtesy of the muslim students association Office are currently inAir, before coming to vestigating. Police have College Park and shootyet to release a motive. ing Siddique outside Parkside apartments “We have no clear determination on before turning the gun on himself. Prince what caused Mr. Siddique to commit George’s County Police and the Harford these atrocities,” said Maj. William Davis County Sheriff’s Office categorized the of the Harford County Sheriff ’s Office. incident as a domestic murder-suicide. Nasir Siddique’s brother, Aasi Tahir Khan joined about 100 other people Siddique, told The Baltimore Sun on to remember Siddique at a candlelight Sept. 29 that his brother sent him a vigil on McKeldin Mall on Wednesday text message early on Sept. 28 telling night. Students and faculty at the vigil, him he was under stress related to which was hosted by this university’s his job. Nasir Siddique also told his Pakistani Student Association, recalled brother that he was depressed due Siddique’s strong work ethic, gentle

See SUSPECT, p. 6

University response to murder-suicide differs from reaction to similar incident three years ago by

More than three Carly Kempler and years after Hannah Lang a murder@thedbk s u i c i d e in Senior staff writers College Park, the community grieves another loss after University of Maryland junior Farhad Siddique was allegedly shot and killed by his father, Nasir Siddique, who then turned the gun on himself on Sept. 28 at the Parkside apartments, according to police. In a similar case on Feb. 11, 2013,

a murder-suicide left two University of Maryland students dead. Dayvon Maurice Green, a graduate student, shot two of his roommates, killing Stephen Alex Rane, 22, and injuring Neal Oa, who was also 22 years old at the time. In response to the 2013 incident, University Police increased patrols around footpaths along the edge of campus, and there was an increase in police presence in College Park, according to a Diamondback article.

NEWS 2 OPINION 4 city 7 DIVERSIONS 8 features 5 SPORTS 12

Vigil mourns friend, classmate gone too soon

Further investigation into the shooting also revealed Green was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a mental illness that may interfere with a person’s ability to manage emotions, make decisions and think clearly, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness website. This university’s Help Center, an anonymous student-run phone counseling hotline, also See 2013, p. 6

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See vigil , p. 6

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