Suspect in imam's killing indicted

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - A Queens grand jury has indicted a Brooklyn man in the killings of a Muslim cleric and his assistant.

The grand jury charged Oscar Morel, 35, with first degree murder, second degree murder, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Authorities said that Morel shot Imam Maulana Alauddin Akonjee and Thara Uddin as they were leaving a prayer service at their mosque in Ozone Park on August 13, 2016.

His attorney has said that is client is not guilty and that he never admitted to detectives that he committed the crime.

Morel has another hearing next week.

Members of the mosque are calling the murders hate crimes, but the NYPD said it is still investigating the motive.

With the AP