NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the fatal shootings of a New York City mosque leader and his associate (all times local): 11:55 a.m. New York City police detectives investigating the slayings of an imam and his associate have detained and questioned a man as part of an attempt to identify a vehicle seen after the shooting.
Authorities say surveillance footage showed the car leaving the scene of Saturday’s shooting in Queens. Investigators said Monday that the car matched the description of one involved in an unsolved hit-and-run crash in Brooklyn. The man was taken into custody Sunday night in connection with that crash.
New York Police Department spokesman Stephen Davis says the man is in custody on an unrelated incident and there have been no arrests related to the shooting. Islamic funeral prayers are to be held Monday for Imam Maulama Alauddin Akonjee and Thara Uddin.
7:50 a.m.
The elder son of one of the two men shot outside a New York City mosque says his father was planning to travel to Bangladesh later this month to visit his ailing mother.
Police say 55-year-old Imam Maulama Alauddin Akonjee and 64-year-old Thara Uddin were shot near the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in Queens as they left afternoon prayers on Saturday.
Akonjee’s son, Foyez Uddin, who isn’t related to the other victim, tells The Associated Press in Bangladesh that his father and mother had booked flights for Aug. 31 to visit the elder man’s mother. The son says the family is discussing funeral plans.
He says his family “cannot believe he is no more,” calling the loss “irreparable.”
1:20 a.m.
A Muslim advocacy group is announcing a reward for information leading to the arrest of the gunman who killed a New York City mosque leader and his associate.
Police say 55-year-old Imam Maulama Alauddin Akonjee and 64-year-old Thara Uddin were shot near the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in Queens as they left afternoon prayers on Saturday.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations will announce on Monday a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.
Police say they have not yet determined a motive for the killings, but some in the Bangladeshi Muslim community served by the mosque worry it could be a hate crime.
Muslim community members will gather in Brooklyn on Monday to hold Islamic funeral prayers for the two men.
This story has been corrected to show the imam’s full name is Maulama Alauddin Akonjee.
“Investigators said Monday that the car matched the description of one involved in an unsolved hit-and-run crash in Brooklyn.”
Would that be an ‘eyewitness’ description, or do you actually have it on video?
“The man was taken into custody Sunday night in connection with that crash.”
Unless he’s Mossad, it’s not likely he’s the shooter. If he is Mossad, he’ll HAVE to be released (or risk bringing down the ire of the jews).
“Police say they have not yet determined a motive for the killings,…”
Furthering the communist agenda.