Autopsy: Gunshot killed Fremont mom

FREMONT -- Medical examiners at the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau in Oakland have confirmed that a gunshot wound to the head killed Alia Ansari in Fremont's Glenmoor neighborhood Thursday, supervising coroner Sgt. Cheryl Gibbs said Monday evening

The autopsy had been scheduled for Friday, but Ansari's family objected because it was against their religious beliefs. After consulting with an attorney and a Muslim sheik, they decided to go forward with the autopsy because it was best for the investigation, which police said was continuing Monday.

Ansari, a 38-year-old mother of six, was killed Thursday as she walked on Glenmoor Drive with her 3-year-old daughter. They were on their way to Glenmoor Elementary School to pick up two ofAnsari's older daughters when a black or Latino man drove up to Ansari and shot her in the head, witnesses said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Some witnesses told police they heard multiple shots and saw the man flee in a black Toyota Tercel or BMW with a rear spoiler, but at least two witnesses told The Argus, a sister paper of The Daily Review, they heard only one shot.

Some of Ansari's relatives said the killing was a hate crime, but authorities have not established a motive.

Officers responding to the scene later arrested 27-year-old parolee Manuel David Urango Jr., whose clothing and vehicle matched the description of the assailant's. He was arrested on unrelated charges.

Urango has been labeled a "person of interest" in the daytime killing but has not been ruled a suspect. He's being held at Santa Rita county jail in Dublin on a parole violation, police said.

Although no new information about the case was released Monday, police said they began investigating the recent vandalism of three buildings, including the Centerville Presbyterian Church on Central Avenue, where someone spray-painted Ansari's name and the letters "R.I.P." on a wall, Sgt. Chris Mazzone said. A women's group from Centerville Presbyterian Church hung a small green wreath with white flowers above Ansari's name. The initials of an old Afghan gang were spray-painted on at least two other buildings in Centerville, but only the Presbyterian church had any reference to the slaying victim, Mazzone said.

"We don't know if they are all related," Mazzone said. "They did have the same color (black) paint, though."

Because some of the tagging included gang references, the information has been forwarded to the Southern Alameda County Gang Violence Suppression Task Force.

Since the shooting, many Fremont residents have expressed their condolences by opening trust funds to collect money for Ansari's six children, who have been staying with relatives since their mother was killed.

Glenmoor School Principal Vivian Martin has opened one at Fremont Bank under the name of Alia Ansari Memorial. And pediatric nurse Mandi Medina, who cared for Ansari's children, has opened one at Washington Mutual. Donations can be deposited in Account No. 3091558830.

Police said they still are seeking information in the case, and fear that the gunman may still be at large. Anyone with information may call police at (510) 790-6900.

Staff writer Ben Aguirre Jr., who covers police and the courts for The Argus, can be reached at (510) 353-7011 or baguirre@angnewspapers.com.

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