Oscar Morel, 35, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
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The man was arrested late Sunday night outside a Brooklyn apartment after intentionally ramming his vehicle into an unmarked police cruiser trying to block him in, Boyce said.
Morel initially was charged in connection with the hit-and-run, but those charges were upgraded on Monday night after police said they recovered a revolver at his Brooklyn home and clothes similar to those worn by the gunman in the surveillance video.
Morel was arrested outside a Brooklyn flat after he intentionally rammed his vehicle into an unmarked police cruiser trying to block him in, Mr Boyce said.
The charges came hours after hundreds of mourners attended the funeral service for the 55-year-old mosque leader Maulana Alauddin Akonjee, who was respected locally, and his 65-year-old associate Thara Uddin.
The NYPD says they are continuing to investigate that angle.
Some members of the congregation shouted, “Justice!” periodically throughout the service.
That incident took place about 10 minutes after the shooting, 3 miles away, police said.
In a press conference Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio tried to allay those fears by promising police would be out in full force around mosques and in Muslim communities.
Monir Chowdhury, who worshipped daily with the two men, said he had moved to the community because of its large Bangladeshi immigrant population, but in recent months has been harassed by people shouting anti-Muslim epithets.
The two victims were wearing religious clothing and had just participated in midday prayers at a nearby mosque when they were shot and killed, reports say.
Felix Lopez, 26, who has lived in Ozone Park for a decade and works at a barber shop, said the Muslims in the neighbourhood, many of Bangladeshi heritage, were very friendly and there was little rancour between ethnic groups in the area.
Police have not yet speculated on a motive, but Morel’s brother insisted that his anger at Muslims over 9/11 was only “temporary” and he now “definitely has no hate for the Muslims”.
Mohammed Nuruzzaman, 31, said the community was anxious to know more about why the men were targeted.
A police auto attempted to block the vehicle in as a man got into the driver’s seat, but it was rammed by the driver – leading to his arrest and subsequent charges for the shooting after police discovered a weapon in his home. ‘We will get justice for this community, ‘ he said.
Asked about Morel’s employment, Boyce said the suspect is believed to have worked at a warehouse in Brooklyn.
Akonjee was carrying US$1,000 with him at the time of the attack but the money was not taken, the New York Times reported.
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Mayor Bill de Blasio said at the service Monday that Muslims make NY better and stronger.
