Son charged after 80-year-old Oshawa man killed minutes after leaving local mosque: police

80-year-old Ibrahim Bala was pronounced dead after being found with severe injuries outside a home in Oshawa.

A 42-year-old man from Oshawa has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly killing his own father outside a local mosque, police say.

The incident happened on Oct. 16.

Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) said they were called to a residential property near Mcgrigor Street and Simcoe Street South for unknown trouble at about 4:20 p.m. that day.

Police say officers found a male with obvious signs of trauma outside of a home near the mosque.

Life-saving measures were performed, but he was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

The victim has been identified as 80-year-old Ibrahim Bala, of Oshawa. He is Durham Region’s seventh homicide victim of the year.

Const. Nick Gluckstein, of DRPS, previously said they believe Bala left the Islamic Centre of Oshawa next door at around 2:30 p.m. and was killed sometime prior to 2:40 p.m.

The mosque said Bala was a “very dear community brother,” adding that they’re heartbroken by his tragic death.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims also released a statement about the homicide on Friday, describing him as a “prominent Muslim community member.”

On Monday, the Islamic Centre of Oshawa released a follow-up statement saying that it has received news of an arrest in this case and reiterating its commitment to helping the family during this difficult time.

“We truly appreciate the outpouring of support and compassion,” the the masjid said.

“Mental health does not discriminate based on religion, ethnicity, age, or gender. We strongly advocate for families to access available mental health resources to help ensure that a tragedy of this nature never happens again.”

At this point, a cause of death has not been released and police have only described Bala’s injuries as “traumatic.”

Investigators have also not released details about the circumstances that led up to this homicide and/or what may have motivated it.

On Monday, at about 1:30 p.m., Durham police attended a home near Thornton Road North and Adelaide Avenue West in Oshawa where they found and arrested a male suspect.

Sohaib Bala, 42, also of Oshawa, was arrested without incident and charged with second-degree murder. He was held for a bail hearing.

Police say the accused is the victim’s son.

This investigation in ongoing and anyone with further information is asked to contact Det. Barrette of the Homicide Unit at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5400, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

With files from CP24’s Chris Fox