Mustafa Mattan shooting in Fort McMurray vexes family, friends

Community members are rallying around the devastated family of a man who they say was fatally shot through his apartment door in Fort McMurray.

Hundreds attended the funeral for 28-year-old Mustafa Mattan at Al Rashid Mosque in Edmonton Thursday.

• Mustafa Mattan shot dead through Fort McMurray apartment door

"I grew up with this family since the sandbox days,” said Mahumud Barre. “Mustafa was like an older brother to me.”

Barre helped start an online GoFundMe campaign for the family to help with funeral expenses.

“When I heard this tragic news a couple of brothers ... all decided to collect money to give back to Mustafa's family ... and put a smile on Mustafa's mom's face.”

Mattan grew up in a rough and tumble neighbourhood of Ottawa, eventually attending university.

But after graduating with a degree in health sciences, he was unable to find a job.

Three weeks ago he moved to Fort McMurray where he found work as a security guard.

On Monday he was shot while attempting to answer a knock at his apartment door, his family said.

“Nobody knows what happened,” said Barre. “We just hope justice is served and we can figure out why this happened to him."

Those closest to him said Mattan was not involved in drug activity or gangs, nor did he have a criminal record.

Mattan, described as quiet and shy, encouraged youth to attend prayer services and stay away from gang life, they said.

RCMP said it's too early in the investigation to say what motivated the shooting.