A Brooklyn man was arrested and charged by police for killing a Queens imam and his assistant in front of their Mosque, police announced Tuesday morning on Twitter, and The New School has since confirmed that he was an employee of the university.
Oscar Morel, 35, allegedly shot Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, and his assistant Thara Uddin, 64, on Saturday after they left Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in Ozone Park, Queens. As Morel left the New York Police Department’s 107th precinct in police custody Monday, he was wearing a button-down shirt labeled “The New School Facilities Management” with his first name sewn adjacent to the university’s label. The New School has since confirmed to The New School Free Press that the alleged shooter has been employed as a porter at the university since November 2013.
ARREST: Oscar Morel charged with 2 counts of murder & crim possession of a weapon in regards to shooting of Imam & associate in Queens
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) August 16, 2016
Statement from The New School:
“Oscar Morel has been a porter at The New School since November 2013. While we are unable to comment on his arrest, we are cooperating fully with the authorities in this matter.”
Morel was charged after police found a revolver, the weapon they believe was used in the murder, in his Brooklyn home, DNA Info reports. Clothing that matched the shooter’s outfit was also discovered in his home.
The alleged shooter was picked up by the NYPD after a full-day stakeout at his house. Police waited for him to leave his home and enter his car, but when police moved in for the arrest, it apparently got a bit hairy. Morel smashed a police car multiple times in an attempt to flee the scene, but was unsuccessful, DNA Info reports.
The motive for the murders has not yet been determined.
Aaron is one of the New School Free Press’ two editors-in-chief. He is also a news writer with Time Inc’s automotive website The Drive, previously covered cars and other moving things for Business Insider’s website Tech Insider, and also was previously a contributing writer with Gawker Media’s automotive website Jalopnik. He is currently a Journalism + Design student at The New School.
