Imam, associate fatally shot after leaving NYC mosque
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NEW YORK - The leader of a New York City mosque and an associate were fatally shot in a brazen daylight attack as they left afternoon prayers Saturday.
Police said 55-year-old Imam Maulama Akonjee and his 64-year-old associate, Tharam Uddin, were shot in the back of the head as they left the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in the Ozone Park section of Queens shortly before 2pm.
Both men were pronounced dead later Saturday, an administrator at Jamaica Hospital said.
Police said no motive has been established and there is no reason to believe the men were shot because they were Muslim. No suspects are in custody.
