Bishop Omar Jahwar honored as community leader after his death from COVID-19 complications The 47-year-old activist and mentor drew on his own history as a troubled teen to create a nonprofit group that helped curb gang violence in Dallas for over 20 years. Pastor Omar Jahwar, a prominent city leader and gang interventionist, addressed students at a 2019 workshop on ways to cope with threats of mass violence in schools. Jahwar died March 11 of complications related to COVID-19.(David Woo / Staff Photographer) Omar Jahwar, a community leader who died last Thursday of complications related to COVID-19, will be remembered this weekend at a memorial service and celebration of life.