NEW YORK: Police have charged 35 year old Oscar Morel for the murder of an Imam in Queens in broad daylight. He has been charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
Taken into custody in connection with a hit-and-run that occurred 10 minutes after the murders, New York City Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said the police believed the car was the same as identified as having "fled the scene" of the crime. "We also identified a person running into the car and taking off directly after the homicide," he said. Boyce added that when New York detectives tried to arrest the man, "he rammed the detectives' car several times in an attempt to get away". Charges after Morel were upgraded after they found a gun and clothes similar to one seen on camera footage.
The killings of Imam Maulama Akonjee and his assistant Thara Uddin is being seen as a hate crime, although the police are yet to identify a motive. Thousands attended the funeral services of both the deceased, including New York Mayor Bill de Blasio who promised justice and protection to the city's Muslims. He said, "I want to say very clearly, New York City is a better place and a stronger place because of our Muslim communities. We know there are voices all over this country spewing hate. We're not going to listen to those voices that try to divide us." de Blasio ended his speech with "Assalaam Waleikum". He promised extra police protection around mosques in the coming days.
Community leaders attending the ceremony asked police to add more security cameras to the corners of city mosques and, bring more patrols to the neighbourhood. Anwar H Khan, who read a list of demands for city officials on behalf of "the victims' families and the communities" said, "This bigot acted upon his hatred, fuelled and motivated by the constant rhetoric and xenophobic statements against minorities and Muslims made by the politicians and candidates seeking the highest office in the land."
