Grief counselling will be available on Tuesday for students dealing with the violent weekend killing of 19-year-old Brock student Yosif al-Hasnawi.

The Brock community was left in shock and mourning upon learning that the first-year Medical Sciences student died in a shooting incident in downtown Hamilton, after trying to help someone who was being accosted on the street.

Police report that Yosif and his younger brother emerged from a religious celebration just before 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2 at a mosque in central Hamilton. Yosif saw a man, described as a senior citizen, being confronted by two other men. When Yosif told them to stop, police say one of the men shot him.

Brock officials have announced that a group counselling session will be held for students on Tuesday (Dec. 5) from noon to 2 pm in Mackenzie Chown J 404.

Any students wishing to receive one-on-one counselling should contact Mehroon Kassam, Clinic Manager of the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre at mkassam@brocku.ca

Officials have also arranged for Imam Hosam Helal to come to Brock to offer spiritual support to students. He is scheduled to be on campus Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 1 to 6 p.m. and on Thursday, Dec. 7 from noon to 5:30 p.m., at the Faith and Life Centre, located in offices R216 and R217 of DeCew Residence.

People wanting  more information about this or other spiritual support should contact Andre Basson at abasson@brocku.ca.

Yosif, who had dreams of going to medical school and becoming a doctor, was a top student who had won a scholarship to Brock and was studying in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and the Faculty of Mathematics & Science. Instructors remembered him as reserved, committed student who was excited about attending Brock.

University officials have contacted Yosif’s family to offer support.

The following link contains the police report on the incident. https://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/community/news/2017/12/hamilton-police-homicide-unit-investigating-citys-9th-homicide-year