Brooklyn Man Charged in Killing of Queens Imam and Associate: NYPD

OZONE PARK, QUEENS, NY — Police have charged a Brooklyn man in the killing of a Queens imam and his associate after he was identified and held on unrelated charges of a hit-and-run that took place roughly three miles from the scene of the homicide, city officials said.

Late Monday night, the NYPD announced the arrest of 35-year-old Oscar Morel, of Brooklyn. Morel faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

NYPD Chief of Detective Robert Boyce said at a press conference earlier Monday evening detectives conducted a video canvas around 3:50 p.m. at 79th Street and Liberty Avenue through which they identified a black GMC trailblazer that the male suspect reportedly used to flee eastbound after the double homicide.

After investigating, detectives were able to identify a hit-and-run involving the same car that reportedly took place at the corner of Pine Street and Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn. Boyce said video pulled from the scene of the hit-and-run showed that the cars were identical. After a grid search, detectives located the car in the vicinity of the hit-and-run and saw a person emerge around 10 p.m. Sunday and approached the car. Boyce said as authorities approached the car, the 35-year-old East New York man rammed the detectives' car several times in an attempt to get away. He was placed under arrest, and a witness to the hit-and-run identified the man.

"We're looking at him for both crimes," Boyce said.

Imam Maulama Akonjee and his associate Thara Uddin had left a prayer service at the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque when they were approached from behind and shot dead just before 2 p.m. on Saturday. Both men were dressed in traditional Muslim garb at the time of the shooting.

Boyce said the NYPD had still not determined a motive in the shooting but said they had not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime.

"Right now we can't explain why he was there," Boyce said. "He was there just prior to that, we have him on video about eight minutes prior to the homicide."

Police recovered a .38 caliber Taurus revolver in connection with the double homicide.

Speaking at the press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he assured members of the Bangladeshi community and the Muslim community that the killer would be brought to justice.

"It's also clear there's a lot of fear in the community," de Blasio said. "It's a very rare thing to see a cleric killed, and members of the Muslim community have been on edge because of the atmosphere already that existed in this country, particularly over the last few months in our national debate."

Members of the NYPD, the mayor said, would be out in full force protecting community institutions and protecting Muslim communities all over the city.

Image via Google Street View, corner of 79th Street and Liberty Avenue