begin quote from:
Queens imam, assistant fatally shot after leaving mosque
New York Daily News-1 hour ago
A lone gunman killed a Queens imam and his assistant as the pair walked home from Saturday afternoon prayers, shooting each in the head ...
Imam, assistant die after being shot on way home from mosque
Atlanta Journal Constitution-19 minutes ago
Atlanta Journal Constitution-19 minutes ago
Subscribe
Queens imam and his assistant shot to death by gunman in attack local Muslims blame on Donald Trump: 'His drama has created Islamophobia'
Queens Imam Shot In The Head And Another In The Chest Near Ozone Park Mosque
NY Daily News
Both victims were dressed in Muslim garb when targeted by the shooter, who fled the scene on foot and remained at large. Members of the mosque quickly denounced the double homicide as a hate crime.
“That’s not what America is about,” said local resident Khairul Islam, 33. “We blame Donald Trump for this ... Trump and his drama has created Islamophobia.”
Khairul Islam Kukon, 33, surrounded by other members of the Al-Furqan, Jame Masjid, Inc. mosque, leads a chant against Donald Trump after his imam was killed in Ozone Park, Queens.
(David Wexler/For New York Daily News)Queens hookah bar shooting leaves four wounded, two cuffed
“We are all crying,” said his brother Mashuk. “There’s so much crying.”
Imam Alala Uddin Akongi and his eldest daughter, Musammot Akongi.
(Obtained by NY Daily News/New York Daily News)The imam’s nephew said Akongi had no problems with anyone in the neighborhood.
Alala Uddin Akongi
(Obtained by NY Daily News/New York Daily News)Hooker's muscle shoots client, mother in Queens pay dispute
The gunshots rang out around 1:55 p.m. on 79th St., said police sources. It was unclear if the killer said anything before he started shooting.
Police scan the scene at 79th Street and Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park, Queens, where an imam and a second man were shot near their mosque.
(David Wexler/For New York Daily News)Witnesses described a chaotic scene where the shooter started blasting at the two unarmed victims in the middle of a blistering August afternoon.
Deputy Inspector Henry Lautner holds a press conference Saturday near the scene of the crime in Ozone Park, Queens.
(Kendall Rodriguez/For New York Daily News)Man arrested in fatal shooting during Bronx robbery
Another witness said the gunfire seemingly came from nowhere.
The Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in Ozone Park, where the victims had just left after afternoon prayer.
(David Wexler/For New York Daily News)“When I came here, they were doing CPR to both of the people on the ground.”
“That’s not what America is about,” said Islam (c.) “We blame Donald Trump for this ... Trump and his drama has created Islamophobia.”
(David Wexler/For New York Daily News)The imam was “a very sweet, soft-spoken, humble man,” said Chowdhury, 40. “He’s a role model as an imam, as a father, as a community member. He didn’t have any disputes with anybody.”
The two men were shot on 79th St. near Liberty Ave. about 1:50 p.m., officials said. First responders rushed the pair to Elmhurst Hospital.
(David Wexler/For New York Daily News)“I’m very shocked,” said Mashuk Uddin. “I’m shaking, my whole body. Not any problems with anybody. He just goes to the mosque, prays and goes home.”
Cops and witnesses described the shooter as tall and Hispanic, carrying a large handgun, and wearing a dark blue shirt and short pants. Police received a 911 call with a report of shots fired.
“I mean, I was scared,” said witness Steven Nauth, 27. “I had my little cousin out here and I told him to run.”
Police, without providing a motive, said initially that the shooting was not a hate crime. The gunfire erupted near a storage facility and a block away from the elevated A train station, officials said.
“People being shot in the head in broad daylight is unheard of,” said Millat Uddin, a 25-year resident of the neighborhood. “Killing people brutally, like they’re an animal.”
With Ellen Moynihan
No comments:
Post a Comment