Death of Sharif Rahman, restaurant owner beaten in Owen Sound over unpaid dining bill, now considered homicide

The 44-year-old owner of an Owen Sound, Ont.,restaurant who was in critical condition after a beating outside his restaurant in what police say was a dispute over anunpaid dining billhas died in a London hospital.

Sharif Rahman died Thursday.According to Owen Sound police, Rahmanwas attacked by three malepatrons who visited his restaurant, The Curry House,in the heart of the city on Aug. 17.

On Friday, police said the investigation into Rahman's death is now considered a homicide. Investigators are still trying to locate the suspects.

Police said Rahmanand his nephew became embroiled in a dispute with the suspectson the sidewalk outside his restaurant over an unpaid bill, and thingsturned violent.

Rahman was seriously injured and sent to hospital, where he was put on life-support.

Rahman's death 'bad irony' for man 'always giving back'

Mark Barbosa, a local Realtor and a friend of the family, announced the death on Friday morning on the web pagefor an online fundraiser.

Barbosa later spoke to CBCLondon andsaid Rahman, who was kind and had a big smile, embodied "the peaceful, humble lifestyle," andgenuinely enjoyed entertaining and pleasing his restaurant clientele with his food.

"He would help anybody with anything, and he did. He was a supporter of charities. He cooked in his kitchenforhomeless places. He was always giving back to his community,and so this is such a bad irony it could happen to such a peaceful person."

Barbosa said he first met Rahman when he sold him a house and they "just clicked." From there, Barbosaand his wife were regular customers at The Curry House and they even had an anniversary dinner there.

Barbosa said Rahman was a pacifist and he doubts he'll ever understand how anyone could assault the restaurant owner, especially over an unpaid dinner bill.

"Will anybody ever know? I don't know," he said. "I do know this: Sharif would not have forced the issue if they refused to pay. I don't believe he would have forced an altercation.

"I believe he would have just said, 'OK. God bless. Maybe come back one day. Just go. He did not make any kind of scene, and I think he got cornered or dragged out, and those guys were looking for trouble."

Rahman leaves behind hisbrother, a nephew who works at the restaurant, andhis wife and six-year-old daughter.

An online fundraiser organized by Barbosahas raised$165,651as of Friday evening.

Policelooking for suspects

On Thursday, police released images of two suspects anda vehicle they were seen leaving the scene of theincidenton Aug. 17.Thesuspectsran southbound on 2nd Avenue East towards 9th Street, where they continued eastbound on 9th Street East, police said.

The two suspects arebelieved to be in their mid-20s to mid-30s, police said.

They described thefirst suspectas:

• White, between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-2, with amedium build and short, dark hair.He was wearing a light blue T-shirt, black shorts and black running shoes at the time of the attack.

The second suspect is described as:

• White,between 5-foot-10 and6-foot-2, with amedium build andshort, brown hair that's longer on the top. He was wearingan orange T-shirt, black shorts and black running shoes.

The third suspect is described as:

• White, with curly hair, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, andlikely in his late 40s to mid-50s.

Police said the vehicle in question appears grey or blue, and is an early 2000s model Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute.