Hundreds attended a funeral prayer service on Monday for an imam and his associate who were fatally shot in the head in broad daylight after prayers at a mosque in New York City on Saturday.
Opening prayer and hundreds and people have arrived to see the press conference and funeral prayer.
Maulama Akonjee, the 55-year-old imam of the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque, and his 64-year-old associate, Thara Uddin, were shot in the back of the head two blocks away from the prayer center in the Ozone Park neighborhood of Queens. They where they had just concluded afternoon prayers on Saturday. Akonjee had about $1,000 on him, but it was not taken, the New York Times reported.
Police detained a suspect Sunday night but did file charges or release further details.
Sketch of alleged shooting outside the Masjid Al-Aman.
A prayer service for the victims and a press conference was held at the mosque on Monday.
Bodies of the imam and his associate have arrived for funeral prayers. #OzoneParkShooting
Heavy police presence for the press conference/funeral prayer for the two Muslim men shot and killed on Saturday.
The funeral prayer has started.
Several people held banners saying "Stop Hate Crimes" and "United for Justice."
A scene of the crowd, waiting for the press conference to start.
Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed the crowd saying, "All of New York City is with you. All of New York is mourning with you."
Mayor De Blasio says "All of NYC is with you. All of New York is mourning with you."
"New York City is a better place and a stronger place because of our Muslim communities," de Blasio said. "And we know there are voices all over this country who are spewing hate, trying to create division, trying to turn one American against another."
New York City is a better place and a stronger place because of Muslims, Mayor De Blasio says. #OzoneParkShooting
A large group began marching down the street in protest, chanting, "We want justice."
Massive protest is moving down the street. Shouts for justice. Not sure if police expected this.
Citing police sources, the New York Daily News reported Monday that the suspect may have been settling a score in a feud between Muslims and Hispanics in the neighborhood.
But many community members told BuzzFeed News that no such feud existed.
Two other residents told BuzzFeed News that despite several robberies occurring in the neighborhood, there were no problems between the Hispanic and Bengali Muslim communities.
