INDIANAPOLIS – The death of American hostage Abdul-Rahman Kassig, formerly known as Peter, was confirmed by U.S. officials Sunday.
A video released by Islamic State militants surfaced showing the beheading of the Indiana native.
The 26-year-old was an Army veteran who returned to the Middle East to provide aid to Syrian refugees.
Kassig was taken captive in October 2013.
His parents, Ed and Paula Kassig, said in a statement Sunday, “The family respectfully asks that the news media avoid playing into the hostage takers’ hands and refrain from publishing or broadcasting photographs or video distributed by the hostage takers.”
“We prefer our son is written about and remembered for his important work and the love he shared with friends and family, not in the manner the hostage takers would use to manipulate Americans and further their cause.”
President Barack Obama offered condolences to the family calling the actions by the terrorist group “pure evil.”
