New York Police search for killer of Imam, assistant
Mon Aug 15, 2016 08:01:am World
2.1K By Buchi Obichie
New York City police searched on Sunday for a suspect in the shooting of a Muslim cleric and his associate killed while walking together along a city street after attending prayers at a nearby mosque, authorities said.
In a statement released, Queens Police said at about 1:50 p.m. EDT (1350 ET) on Saturday afternoon in the Ozone Park neighborhood, a lone gunman approached the men from behind and shot both in the head at close range.
They cited witnesses statements and video surveillance footage for details of the attack in the largely working-class area, home to many Muslims of Bangladeshi heritage.
Police said witnesses informed them of the assailant, dressed in a dark shirt and blue shorts, fleeing the shooting scene with a gun in his hand.
Early on Sunday, police released a sketch of a male suspect with dark hair, a beard and glasses. Police described him as having a medium complexion. He appeared to be in his 30's or 40's.
The victims, identified as Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, and Thara Uddin, 64, were both wearing religious garb at the time of shooting, police said. They were found by police lying in the street and transported to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.
The motive for the shooting was not immediately known and no evidence has been uncovered that the two men were targeted because of their faith, but police were not ruling out any possibility, a department spokeswoman said.
According to a New York Times reportage, Akonjee was carrying $1,000 with him at the time of the attack, but the money was not taken.
In a statement released, Queens Police said at about 1:50 p.m. EDT (1350 ET) on Saturday afternoon in the Ozone Park neighborhood, a lone gunman approached the men from behind and shot both in the head at close range.
They cited witnesses statements and video surveillance footage for details of the attack in the largely working-class area, home to many Muslims of Bangladeshi heritage.
Police said witnesses informed them of the assailant, dressed in a dark shirt and blue shorts, fleeing the shooting scene with a gun in his hand.
Early on Sunday, police released a sketch of a male suspect with dark hair, a beard and glasses. Police described him as having a medium complexion. He appeared to be in his 30's or 40's.
The victims, identified as Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, and Thara Uddin, 64, were both wearing religious garb at the time of shooting, police said. They were found by police lying in the street and transported to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.
The motive for the shooting was not immediately known and no evidence has been uncovered that the two men were targeted because of their faith, but police were not ruling out any possibility, a department spokeswoman said.
According to a New York Times reportage, Akonjee was carrying $1,000 with him at the time of the attack, but the money was not taken.
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