NEW YORK — Police are searching for a suspect and motive in the shooting death of a Muslim cleric and his associate in Queens on Saturday. The suspect shot to death Maulama Akonjee, 55, and Thara Uddin, 65, both Bangladeshi Muslims.
Police said the inman and his associate were walking together at about 150pm, shortly after afternoon prayers. They were walking up 79th street toward Liberty Avenue. Their mosque is nearby.
The gunman wore shorts and a dark polo shirt. He approached his victims from behind. The male suspect shot his victims in the back of the head at close range. Witnesses described seeing the suspect flee with his gun in hand.
The New York Times reported that Akonjee carried more than $1,000 on his person and the money wasn’t taken.
Following the murders, members of the Muslim community gathered at the spot where the two men were killed. Police said they had no evidence of a hate crime.
Investigators are trying to determine whether a dispute at the mosque earlier in the day is connected to the shooting.
