COLUMBUS, Ohio — Investigators believe multiple people were involved in the shooting death of a Columbus mosque leader last year.
Police announced the arrest of John Wooden Jr. on Thursday in connection to the shooting after months of investigation. Wooden is charged with murder in the death of Mohamed Hassan Adam.
Adam, a mosque leader described by community members as a “beloved pillar,” was reported missing on Dec. 22 after he never arrived to pick up his child from daycare.
Investigators said Adam was last seen leaving his mosque in a yellow van that night. Two days later, his body was found inside the van near a wooded area off of Windsor Avenue. His death was ruled a homicide.
Investigators identified Wooden as a suspect in the case based on a business transaction he had with Adam, according to Columbus Police Detective Earl Westfall.
An autopsy report showed Adam died from multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head.
In the court filing, police wrote that a search warrant was served at Wooden’s home after he was identified as a suspect. According to police, Wooden came home during that search and was arrested.
While searching Wooden's home, police found a gun that was later tested and came back as a match to shell casings found at the scene.
Wooden is currently being held at the Franklin County Jail. Westfall said he is considered a suspect in several other crimes being investigated.
"Yesterday was one of the biggest days... that we heard the suspect is under custody and I hope that we receive justice," said Adam's daughter.
Westfall added investigators do not believe the shooting was race or faith-based. He said they believe more people were involved and the investigation is ongoing.
"I'm 100% certain that probably at least one other person, maybe more, are involved in this," Westfall said. "It's my duty and obligation to the family and community, and Columbus as a whole, to get everyone involved with this crime put where they belong: in jail."