Thomson Reuters
A sketch of a suspect in the shooting of Imam Akonjee and Uddin hangs on a street sign across from Al-Furqan Jame Mosque, where the two victims had been worshipping on Saturday afternoon before the shooting, in New York.
The suspect, whom police described at a briefing as a 36-year-old Hispanic man, was being questioned about the fatal shootings of Imam Maulama Akonjee and Thara Uddin on Saturday after they left a mosque in the Ozone Park section of Queens.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said during a press conference on Monday night that they "strongly believe" the suspect in custody is the same person who killed Akonjee and Uddin.
Officials declined to give the name of the suspect or to comment on a suspected motive for the killings.
Police were able to find the suspect on Sunday after a hit-and-run occurred shortly after the shooting. The bicyclist who was hit by the suspect's car reported the vehicle, a black GMC Trailblazer, and the license plate to authorities.
"Detectives were able to develop a strong lead into a suspect very early on based on an unrelated incident that occurred in Brooklyn, approximately 10 minutes after the shooting, three miles away," NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said during a press conference.
The car in the hit-and-run appeared to be identical to the getaway car of Akonjee and Uddin's shooter.
Although the suspect didn't appear to have a connection to the victims, police told DNAinfo that they are considering the possibility of it being a hate crime.
Police say the two men were attacked from behind and were not robbed, leading many to conclude that the shooting was motivated by their race or religion.
"Two people just got murdered and NYPD saying this might not be a hate crime. I would like to ask NYPD, what is it then? Come on. Somebody comes from behind and shoot you for no reason - imam and his assistant?" Muhammad Ali, a mourner at a memorial service for the men on Monday, told CBS New York. "Come on, this is common sense."
When police approached his home in East New York, the suspect evaded officers in a vehicle and struck a police car in the process.
"He rammed the detectives' car several times in an effort to get away. He was placed under arrest without any further incident," Boyce said.
Police officials obtained warrants from the Queens district attorney on Monday to gain access to the suspect's home and his car to find any possible ties to the slayings.