In January multiple media outlets reported that former American River College student and Iraqi-American military contractor, Nawres Waleed Hamid, was killed in a rocket attack in Iraq in December 2019.
An email sent by ARC president, Thomas Greene reported to college staff and faculty that Hamid was a linguist working at a military base near Kirkuk, Iraq.
“His death has been cited as one of the reasons for the killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani,” Greene wrote.
According to multiple media outlets, including the Sacramento Bee, U.S. forces blamed the rocket attack on Kataeb Hezbollah, a militia group with connections to Iran.
According to an email sent by ARC public information officer, Scott Crow, Hamid attended ARC from 2013-2018 and earned a Certificate of Achievement in a Computer Information Science field during his time at the college.
Hamid majored in computer networking management but is not considered an ARC graduate since he did not acquire an associate’s degree from the college.
He is survived by his wife, Noor Alkahilili, and two sons, ages 2 and 8. The Bee reported Hamid was buried in the Greater Sacramento Muslim Cemetery on Jan. 4.
Crow said he was not able to identify anyone connected to the college that was willing to speak with any media outlets, including the Current. Crow issued the college’s public announcement regarding Hamid’s passing via email.
“We are obviously saddened by this news and the impact that the apparent escalation of military action in the Middle East will have on our students, both current and former,” Crow wrote. “We send our deepest condolences to Nawres’ family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
