In a series of indiscriminate shootings across Queens and Brooklyn, a gunman riding a scooter fatally shot an 86-year-old man and injured three additional individuals, according to police reports.
The suspect, identified as Thomas Abreu, 25, has been apprehended by law enforcement and now faces charges of murder, attempted murder, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Assistant Chief Kenny stated that a 9 mm handgun equipped with an extended magazine, along with a scooter, was recovered as part of the investigation.
The motive behind the shooter’s actions remains unknown.
It appears that the attacks were carried out at random, as video footage indicates that the perpetrator was not specifically targeting or following anyone while riding his scooter.
The shooting incidents began at approximately 11:10 a.m., when an individual on a scooter shot a 21-year-old man in the shoulder near the intersection of Ashford Street and Arlington Avenue in Brooklyn. The victim was transported to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in stable condition, and medical authorities expect him to survive.
Seventeen minutes after the initial shooting, an 86-year-old man named Hamoo Saeidi was discovered with a gunshot wound to his back in front of 108-19 Jamaica Avenue in the Richmond Hill area of Queens.
Saeidi was immediately transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries. Shortly thereafter, witnesses in Queens reported that a man riding a scooter began firing shots indiscriminately into a group of people gathered at the intersection of 108th Street and Jamaica Avenue, although fortunately, no one was injured.
At approximately 11:35 a.m., another shooting occurred at the intersection of Hillside Avenue and 126th Street, where a 44-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to the face. He was swiftly taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in critical condition.
Merely two minutes later, at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 134th Street, a 63-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. He was promptly transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in stable condition.
Subsequently, authorities discovered yet another shooting incident. At 11:36 p.m., a 40-year-old man was present at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 131st Street when shots were fired in his direction. The suspect quickly fled the scene, and fortunately, the victim did not sustain any injuries from the gunfire.
According to NYPD Acting Police Commissioner Edward Caban, armed with an image of the suspect, officers spread out across Queens. Caban emphasized the importance of conveying a critical message by sharing the suspect’s image with every NYPD officer on duty.
This proactive measure proved beneficial when officers from the 103rd and 113th Precincts promptly identified and apprehended the suspect in Queens slightly after 1 p.m.
The recovered 9mm pistol featured an extended magazine. Caban expressed his appreciation to the dedicated men and women of the NYPD, given the level of violence the individual demonstrated. He also noted that the suspect, Abreu, has only one previous arrest related to a traffic violation.
Scooter-riding gunman Thomas Abreu charged with murder in Brooklyn, Queens shooting spree