They recovered a gun and clothing similar to what witnesses said the shooter wore at the time of the killings, according to two law-enforcement officials.
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“I loved my father, my father was a good guy”, said the victim’s son, Saif Akonjee.
Police had said there was no evidence the men were targeted due to their faith but nothing was being ruled out. He was officially charged Monday.
The suspect’s name was not released and Boyce stressed that there was still a long way to go in the investigation.
Minutes after the two Muslim men were shot, Morel, who was driving a black GMC Trailblazer, hit a bicyclist at the intersection of Pine Street and Pitkin Avenue, the Wall Street Journal reported.
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.
Imam Maulana Alauddin Akonjee’s and Thara Uddin’s were killed as they were leaving a prayer service at a mosque on Saturday.
PHOTO: Community members take part in a protest to demand stop hate crime during the funeral service of Imam Maulama Akonjee, and Thara Uddin in the Queens borough of New York City, August 15, 2016.
The motive of the gunman remains unknown, but the ceremony featured several speakers who said they believed the victims were targeted due to their religion. Mayor Bill de Blasio was also in attendance to show his support for the Muslim community. “Rest assured that our NYPD will bring this killer to justice”. Prosecutors say the attack is being viewed as a possible hate crime.
Emotions ran high. Some people shouted for justice as a man spoke at the podium.
When police closed in, Mr. Mosel rammed a police vehicle in an attempt to flee, Chief Boyce said.
The daylight slaying of a mosque leader and his associate set off fear and anguish Sunday among Bangladeshi Muslims in a New York City neighborhood, with some saying the killings appear to be an anti-Muslim hate crime.
Authorities say surveillance footage showed the auto leaving the scene of Saturday’s shooting in Queens. A auto bearing the same description was tracked down to Brooklyn, leading the police to Morel. They waited until Morel emerged at about 10 p.m. local time Sunday.
NY man charged in slaying of Muslim imam, assistant was posted in World of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on August 16, 2016 and was last updated on August 16, 2016.
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Oscar Morel was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the deaths of Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, and his assistant, 64-year-old Thara Uddin. “I believe that”, Uddin’s brother, Mashuk, said outside court on Tuesday.
