Man charged with murder of NY imam, friend

NEW YORK

A suspect charged with the murder of an imam and his companion in Queens is awaiting a court appearance Tuesday, according to officials.

Oscar Morel, 35, from a Hispanic community in Brooklyn, is accused of fatally shooting imam Maulana Alauddin Akonjee and Thara Uddin in the back of their heads Saturday at as they walked home from a Bengali community mosque where the two prayed.

Morel has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and faces life in prison without parole if convicted.

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said the motive is still unclear but it was possible the murders could be named a hate crime.

“Regardless, however, whether a hate crime was committed in this case, the crime will be vigorously prosecuted and we will seek the most serious penalties that our law allows,” Brown said in a statement.

At a funeral service Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged extra security measures in Muslim communities across the city.

“For all those here who want justice we want justice to with you and we will get justice for this community,” he said.