Memorial Held For Saudi Student Killed In Attack Near UW-Stout

More than 1,000 people paid their respects during a memorial at the University of Wisconsin-Stout for a Saudi Arabian exchange student who died after being assaulted early Sunday morning.

UW-Stout’s historic bell tower tolled for 24-year-old Hussain Saeed Alnahdi who came to Menomonie to study English last year with plans to continue into accounting. Among a long list of speakers at the memorial was Alnahdi’s roommate, Ben Collar. Tears flowed as Collar recounted memories shared with the man he called a “brother.”

“So tonight, everyone, when you leave this memorial, hold your friends close, tell them how much you care, and tell them that you love them because you never know when you might not be able to say that again,” Collar said. “I love you, Hussain. We will always be family.”

The eulogies painted a picture of a young man who was charismatic and funny with a deep love for his friends. Stout ESL tutor Margee Stienecker said Alnahdi loved poetry. She read a poem she shared with him two days before he died, which ends with the author encouraging the reader to give themselves to a world worth rescuing.

“I wish we could rescue Hussain, but we can challenge ourselves to make the world a better place in his memory,” Stienecker said. “And finally, I’d like to send a message to his family that we are so sorry. But you did a great job of raising Hussain, and he’s made a big difference in all of our lives,”

Police are treating Alnahdi’s death as a homicide and possible hate crime, though no suspects have been named. Witnesses nearby at the time of the assault said they saw a white male around 6 feet tall running from the scene. Through donations, a $20,000 reward is being offered for tips leading to the arrest of Alnahdi’s assailant.