Morel indicted for murder of imam

Oscar Morel (foreground) appears for an arraignment at the Queens Criminal Court on August 16. File picture: Dennis A. Clark

Oscar Morel (foreground) appears for an arraignment at the Queens Criminal Court on August 16. File picture: Dennis A. Clark

Published Aug 24, 2016

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New York - The suspect accused of fatally shooting an imam and another person in New York City's Queens district last week has been indicted on murder charges, the Queens District Attorney's Office said in a statement on Monday.

"A Queens County grand jury has returned a five-count indictment charging Oscar Morel, 35, of Brooklyn, with fatally shooting Imam Maulana Akonjee and his associate and friend, Thara Uddin, as they walked home following afternoon prayers," the statement noted.

The indictment charges Morel with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

According to the indictment, Morel allegedly shot and killed Akonjee and Uddin close to the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque on August 13. A motive for the shooting has yet to be determined.

If convicted, Morel faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is due back in court on September 1.

Sputnik

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