Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Vigil planned for Kamloops homicide victim

A man stands on a gravel path in a forest.
Muhammad "Ash" Zafar's homicide prompted warnings to people using dating apps, sparking caution and fear among the Kamloops LGBTQ2S community. GOFUNDME/Syed Rizvi

A vigil for a Kamloops murder victim will be held this weekend as organizers honour his life at Riverside Park.

People who knew Muhammand “Ash” Zafar, along with local organizations, are hosting the event two weeks after he was found dead in his home during a wellness check.

According to organizers, people who knew him will share memories of Zafar and reflect on his life at the Riverside Park bandshell on Saturday.

Zafar’s death was initially ruled an isolated event, but police later said they were looking for witnesses who may have known him through men-seeking-men dating sites. It came with a warning for the public to take precautions when meeting new people online.

Whether he was killed by someone he met on a gay dating site isn’t clear, but the Kamloops queer community has turned to vigilance for each other’s safety while also mourning Zafar.

Kamloops RCMP has not provided anymore information on the investigation or specified any potential links to his activity on gay dating sites.

An online fundraiser to support his family and funeral expenses has raised more than $30,000.

iNFOnews.ca has been unable to reach its organizers, but the fundraiser describes Zafar as the “main financial supporter of the entire family.”

The Riverside Park vigil begins at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 17.

News from © iNFOnews.ca, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

Levi Landry

Levi is a recent graduate of the Communications, Culture, & Journalism program at Okanagan College and is now based in Kamloops. After living in the BC for over four years, he finds the blue collar and neighbourly environment in the Thompson reminds him of home in Saskatchewan. Levi, who has previously been published in Kelowna’s Daily Courier, is passionate about stories focussed on both social issues and peoples’ experiences in their local community. If you have a story or tips to share, you can reach Levi at 250 819 3723 or email LLandry@infonews.ca.

Related Articles