Bratton: NYPD Can't Yet Classify Slayings Of Imam, Associate As Hate Crime
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A suspect has been arrested and charged with the murder of an imam and his associate in Queens this past weekend, but community leaders want to know why the executions have not been classified as hate crimes.
CBS2's Hazel Sanchez went to the NYPD Wednesday to find out.
Just hours after Imam Maulana Alauddin Akonjee and Thara Uddin were gunned down this past Saturday afternoon in Ozone Park, many in the Muslim community were convinced the men were killed because of their faith.
At the funeral for the men on Monday, some mourners demanded that police call the murders a hate crime.
"Two people just got murdered and NYPD saying this might not be a hate crime," said mourner Muhammad Ali. "I would like to ask NYPD, what is it then?"
Four days after the deadly shooting, and with suspect Oscar Morel, 35, under arrest, police Commissioner Bill Bratton said the NYPD has yet to determine what motivated the gunman to open fire. He said they must make that determination before classifying the murders as a hate crime.
"I know many in the community feel that it was a hate crime," Bratton said. "We can't confirm that, and I'm not going to confirm it at this stage."
Investigators on Wednesday were searching through Morel's cellphone pictures and texts to figure out why he allegedly gunned down the imam and his assistant.
As WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported, Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said the NYPD has a compelling case – with the gun, and a surveillance video in which the suspect allegedly identified himself running from the scene in still images. But the motive remains a mystery.
"We're going through his Facebook as well to see exactly what motivated this man to do that heinous act," said NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce. "Right now from family and friends -- the ones we've talked to -- they cannot tell us why that he did this, because he never exhibited signs before."
Police said there was no earlier contact between the victim and the suspect, but the victim's families and their neighbors said they want to make sure the killer pays the full price for the crime.
"We would like relief as soon as possible -- relief meaning they clearly say it's a hate crime, and that he gets a life sentence," said family spokesman Khairul Islam. "It's frustrating for the family. It's very emotional they have a lot of kids. They want an answer fast."
Even though police have not determined a motive, the Islamic Leadership Council of New York has called the killings a hate crime. The group was to hold an emergency meeting of imams and local Muslim leaders Wednesday night to address the community's concerns.