Imam Maulama Akonjee
Imam Maulama Akonjee
Imam Maulama Akonjee was an Imam at the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in Queens in New York, New York. He was a married father of three. Imam Maulama had moved from Bangladesh to Queens only 2 years ago.
Death
Imam Maulama Akonjee was fatally shot in a shooting near a block away from the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in Ozone Park in . His assistant, 65-year-old Thara Uddin, died about four hours after the attack. The Imam was shot while walking home from the mosque with his brother-in-law after he had lead prayer.
Dozens of angry Muslim men gathered at the murder scene, making it clear they believed the shooting was a hate crime with the two religious leaders specifically targeted.
Many also blamed Donald Trump for the shooting saying he had encouraged Islamophobia.
The two men were shot on 79th St. near Liberty Ave. about 1:55 p.m., police said.
First responders rushed the pair to Jamaica Hospital, where one of the two was pronounced dead.
Cops and witnesses described the shooter as tall and Hispanic, carrying a large handgun, and wearing a dark blue shirt and short pants.
“That’s not what America is about,” said local resident Khairul Islam, 33.
“We blame Donald Trump for this...
Trump and his drama has created Islamophobia.”
“People being shot in the head in broad daylight is unheard of,” said Millat Uddin, a 25-year resident of the neighborhood.
“Killing people brutally, like they’re an animal.”
Perpetrator
On August 15, 2016, Oscar Morel was charged in the killings.