Queens Shooting: Police Questioning Suspect in Killing of Imam, Second Man

UPDATE Aug. 15, 6:30 a.m.: Police have made an arrest in the killing of Maulama Akonjee and Thara Uddin, according to the New York Post.

According to the report, the NYPD has taken a 35-year-old from Ozone Park into custody. However, the man has yet to be charged.

Imam Akonjee and his brother-in-law, Uddin, were gunned down on Saturday afternoon just after leaving their mosque in Ozone Park.

ORIGINAL STORY

OZONE PARK, QUEENS, NY — A Queens imam and his assistant were killed Saturday in a shooting in Ozone Park as they left a prayer service, but police say they have not determined a motive for the attack.

The shooting occurred just before 2 p.m. on 79th Street and Liberty Avenue, within the confines on the 106th precinct. Both men, dressed in traditional Muslim garb, were walking down 79th Street and were turning onto Liberty Avenue, when they were approached from behind by a male with medium complexion dressed in a dark polo shirt and shorts, police said. At a brief press conference Saturday evening, NYPD officials said the male suspect fled on 79th Street and witnesses reported he had a gun in his hand.

The imam killed in the shooting was identified as 55-year-old Maulama Akonjee. The second man gunned down in the shooting was identified as 64-year-old Thara Uddin. Both men resided in Queens.

Police have released a sketch of the suspect and are asking for the public's help in identifying the man. He is described by police as a man with "medium" complexion last seen wearing a dark colored shirt and blue shorts.

Witnesses speaking to the New York Daily News called the attack "targeted." Police say they have not established a motive in the shooting and said so far there is nothing to indicate that the two men were targeted because of their Muslim faith.

The gunshots rang out near the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque. An area nonprofit leader told The New York Times the imam was shot as he walked away from the mosque with his brother-in-law after leading a prayer. A second mosque, Masjid Al-Aman, is also within walking distance of the scene of the shooting.

Police say they are not ruling out that the shooting was related to the men's faith and the investigation is ongoing.

Witnesses described the imam as a peaceful and scholarly man.

Members of the community congregated near the scene of the shooting demanding justice.

Patch will update this breaking news story.

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