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Imam and Another Man Shot Dead Near Mosque in Ozone Park

By  Murray Weiss Michael P. Ventura and Paul DeBenedetto | August 13, 2016 4:53pm | Updated on August 14, 2016 9:44am

 Police are looking for a man they say killed Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, and Thara Uddin, 64, in Ozone Park.
Police are looking for a man they say killed Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, and Thara Uddin, 64, in Ozone Park.
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NYPD

QUEENS — An imam and another man were killed in a broad-daylight shooting in Ozone Park Saturday afternoon, sources said.

Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, and Thara Uddin, 64, were walking home from prayers at the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque at roughly 1:50 p.m., when they were approached from behind by a man in a dark polo shirt and shorts as they turned on to Liberty Avenue and 79th Street, police said.

The unidentified man shot both victims in the head, then fled southbound on 79th Street with the gun in his hand, police said. 

Both men were taken to Jamaica Hospital, the NYPD said. Akonjee was immediately pronounced dead, and Uddin died shortly after, according to police.

The investigation is ongoing, and the NYPD said officers were canvassing the area Saturday night to find additional video and witnesses. Police on Sunday morning released a sketch of the unidentified suspect based on witness reports.

The motive for the shooting is unclear, sources said, but investigators were looking into whether it was a possible hate crime.