RICHMOND HILL, Queens (WABC) — A gunman riding a scooter killed an 86-year-old man and injured 3 others in a series of random shootings in Queens and Brooklyn, police said.
Thomas Abreu, 25, was taken into custody by police and charged Sunday with murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
A 9mm caliber pistol with an extended magazine and a scooter were recovered.
“We don’t know the reason. It seems that his actions were random, ”said Kenny. “The video shows that he is not targeting anyone, he is not following anyone while he is driving his scooter, he is shooting people randomly.”
The shooting began around 11:10 a.m. when someone on a scooter shot a 21-year-old man in the shoulder near the intersection of Ashford Street and Arlington Avenue Brooklyn. He was taken to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in stable condition and is expected to survive, police said.
Seventeen minutes later, Hamoo Saeidi, 86, was found with a gunshot wound to the back in front of 108-19 Jamaica Avenue in the Richmond Hill section of Queens. Saeidi was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he later died.
Shortly thereafter, in Queens, witnesses reported that a man on a scooter randomly fired at a group of people at the intersection of 108th Street and Jamaica Avenue, though no one was injured.
At 11:35 a.m. at Hillside Avenue and 126th Street, a 44-year-old man was shot in the face. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in critical condition.
Just two minutes later, at Jamaica Avenue and 134th Street, a 63-year-old man was shot in the right shoulder. He was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in stable condition.
Police later discovered that there was a sixth shooting incident. At 11:36 pm, a 40-year-old man was standing at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 131 Street when shots were fired in his direction. The suspect then fled the scene. The victim was not injured in the shooting.
“Armed with a picture of the suspect as officers fanned out through Queens,” said NYPD Acting Police Commissioner Edward Caban.
Caban asked for a critical message, that means an image of the suspect was sent to every NYPD officer on the street. He helped officers from the 103rd and 113th Precincts recognize and arrest the suspect in Queens just after 1 p.m.
“The 9mm pistol had an extended magazine. Given the violence this individual was willing to carry out, I want to express my gratitude to the men and women of the NYPD,” Caban added.
Officers say Abreu has only one prior arrest for a traffic violation.
READ ALSO | Boy safe after Irvington carjacking with 7-year-old inside
———-
* More Queens news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app to get breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a last-minute tip or story idea we should cover? Submit it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If you attach a video or photo, the terms of use apply.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24742194/350457055_218583294315389_8997521909640967870_n.jpg)