A Muslim leader who has been vocal about the police-involved shooting death of terror suspect Usaamah Rahim said Tuesday officials should have contacted him during their surveillance of the suspect.
“A young man is dead. It could have very well been prevented,” said Imam Abdullah Faaruuq, of the Mosque for the Praising of Allah, during a news conference Tuesday.
“I think they should have contacted me,” Faaruuq said at Black Community Information Center Inc. in Roxbury, where he was joined by the center’s director, Sadiki Kambon. The organization, established in 1986, provides information and news on local and national issues.
“If I find someone is radical, I’m turning them in,” Faaruuq said. “Our job is to stop them.”
Rahim, 26, was shot to death by members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force on June 2, after investigators say he lunged at them with a military-style knife in Roslindale.
Faaruuq, who presided over Rahim’s funeral last week, said, “I’m hurt and very disappointed we didn’t have an opportunity to reel him in.”
Faaruuq said he hopes police will reach out to him in the future if similar matters arise.
The Boston Police Department did not respond to requests seeking comment.
Rahim and his nephew, David Wright, 25, of Everett were allegedly conspiring to attack police officers. Wright was arraigned last week and faces federal obstruction charges. He is being held without bail pending a hearing later this month.
Wright had urged Rahim to prepare a will, destroy his cellphone, and erase the memory of his laptop computer before acting on their plans.
“If you think people in the Muslim community are being radicalized, then help me,” Faaruuq said. “They could have come to me. Things can be changed, but it has to come with cooperation of public officials.”
Jan Ransom can be reached at jan.ransom@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jan_Ransom.