Dec. 10--The brother of a Loyola University student who was shot to death during a robbery last week said Tuesday his family seeks "peace not vengeance, understanding not bigotry."
Mutahir Rauf, 23, was fatally shot while walking with his brother about 7:40 p.m. Friday near Albion and Lakewood avenues. Mutahir's older brother, Mokaram Rauf, 26, spoke with media for 15 minutes before a memorial service on the Loyola campus in Rogers Park.
"Honor his memory by striving to mirror the grace, generosity and lightheartedness that he so faithfully exemplified," Mokaram Rauf said, adding that what happened is symptomatic of the larger problem of violence and poverty in Chicago.
"We are keenly aware that we share this terrible ordeal with other Chicago families whose worlds have been similarly devastated at the hand of insensible gun violence. We ask you to keep them in your thoughts as well."
Keeping composed and standing beside his wife, Rauf highlighted his brother's life in service, having been inspired by working with the poor in the Philippines and wanting to be a doctor so he could help others.
"His bright spirit will continue to shine in the darkest corners of our hearts," he said.
More than 300 family, friends and members of the Loyola University community gathered later Tuesday morning to remember Rauf as a "force of nature," a gregarious talent who sought to be the best at everything he did, whether it was academic pursuits, bodybuilding or being a gracious son.
In a memorial service filled with laughter at an auditorium on the Rogers Park campus, Rauf's parents and brothers sat up front as his former roommate, best friends and brother recalled often funny memories of Rauf -- cleaning like "crazy" before his mom came to visit his Chicago home, giving hugs so warm they could lead to "cracked ribs," keeping his kitchen filled with turkey bacon and pasta to make up the calories for his aggressive workouts.
Mokaram Rauf, struck what he called his younger brother's "signature Zeus pose" -- a way to flex his impressive biceps -- as he ended the eulogy, his voice breaking: "We'll always love you. Thank you for all that you gave us."
Loyola students and staff hugged as they entered and exited the auditorium for the memorial service. A photo of Mutahir Rauf -- smiling broadly in a tuxedo at his brother's wedding about a year and a half ago -- was placed in front of the auditorium on an easel above a flower bouquet that included the Islamic symbols of a crescent and moon.
Some students who attended the service said they had never met Mutahir Rauf but felt compelled to pay their respects.
"There's such an outpouring of love for him it's kind of easy to see that he was such a great guy. We just felt like it was important that we came to honor him even if we didn't know him. He was part of our community," said Mackenzie Rauch, 21.
Rauf was a graduate of Northwestern University who was taking pre-med classes at Loyola.
He was born in Lahore, Pakistan, and came to the United States with his mother Nighat and his brothers, now 26 and 22, to live with their father, Abdul, in New York City, according to a biography distributed by Ahmed Rehab, a friend of the family.
In New York, Rauf lived in the neighborhoods of Bensonhurst in Brooklyn and Ozone Park in Queens and went to Brooklyn Technical High School.
Rauf attended Northwestern University and graduated with a double bachelor's degree in psychology and science.
During his time at Northwestern, he worked "with disenfranchised communities" in Cebu, Philippines, according to the biography. He was pursuing a post-baccalaureate degree in pre-medicine at Loyola, Rehab said. Rauf aspired to become a doctor and was in the process of applying to medical school.
"He decided to pursue a career in medicine with a goal of helping the less-fortunate receive access to quality healthcare," according to the biography.
"He was someone who loved life and lived it well," Rehab said over the weekend. "He had this wholesome personality."
Rauf's parents headed to Chicago from Pakistan on Sunday, according to Rehab.
Authorities say two men approached Rauf and his brother Friday evening, and one of them pulled a gun and ordered the brothers to hand over their money. Rauf believed the gun was a toy and reached for it, police said. The gun went off during the scuffle and the attackers fled.
No arrests have been made, but police have released descriptions of the robbers. One was a black man, about 18 to 20 years old, about 6 feet tall and weighing about 140 to 150 pounds. He was wearing a black ski mask and a black hoodie. The other robber was black or Hispanic, about 18 to 20 years old, about 5-foot-8 and weighing about 150 pounds. He was wearing a black knit cap and a black hoodie.
For some students at the service, Rauf's death made them acutely awareof the potential dangers near their school.
"There's so much crime here in Rogers Park and I think something like this is going to happen, and it's sad that it happened to him. I think we need to support everything. I think they need to find solutions," said Sarah Koldenhoven, 21.
