'He was a good guy': Family, friends of Winnipeg man killed in Saskatoon speak

Monday was an emotional morning for the family and friends of Mohammed Omar, as they mourned the loss of young man whose goal was to help others.

The 18-year-old Winnipeg man died Sunday in a fatal stabbing on Central Ave. in Sutherland.  

A friend of the victim, 29-year-old Wallid Mohamed, is accused of first-degree murder for his alleged involvement.

“Everybody is shocked about it. They were friends – they would hang out together, they would do everything … it wasn’t a problem,” said Aarif Jomha, a close friend of the victim.

“We’re all together here. It’s a sad day for the family and for everybody – it’s a sad day as a community.”

On Monday, a small group – including members of Winnipeg’s Kurdish community and Omar’s parents – gathered outside provincial court in Saskatoon following Mohammed’s first appearance.

“We’re all together here. It’s a sad day for the family and for everybody – it’s a sad day as a community.”

Omar’s mother wept long and loudly in the parking lot as his father, Khattab Karim, spoke to media.

“My son got killed for nothing,” Kamir said, clutching his son’s notebook.

He had spoken with the 18-year-old an hour before his death early Sunday morning; the young man had called and asked how his four siblings were doing, and to check in on dad.

“He was talking with me every day,” Kamir said.

Omar moved to Saskatoon six months ago to help Aarif Jomha, whose son lives with autism.

“I told him don’t go, but he said, ‘Dad, I promised to help because this guy needs help’,” Karim said.

Jomha said Omar was like a big brother mentor for his 13-year-old son.

“It’s the first friend that (my son) had. When I told him (the news), he said, ‘That’s my best friend. Who’s going to teach me now?’” Jomha said.

“He was a good guy … if he wasn’t a good guy, he wouldn’t be with my son, and if he wasn’t a good guy, I wouldn’t talk to him.”

Jomha said he paid Omar just enough to get by, but added the young man was simply happy to make a difference.

“That’s how much of a solid guy he was.”

Around 1 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to the 700 block of Central Ave. after witnesses called about an injured person who needed help.

Police said officers and paramedics were directed inside the business by witnesses where they found Omar unconscious suffering from stab wounds.

The 18-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

With the help of witnesses, officers immediately took Mohamed into custody at the scene.

It’s believed an initial fight began in a vehicle nearby the business, which led to the stabbing inside the building.

After an investigation by several police units, the 29-year-old was charged with first-degree murder.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

This is Saskatoon’s fifth murder of 2016.