The NYPD is searching for four individuals in connection to the most recent of three shooting homicides of male shopkeepers of Middle Eastern descent in Brooklyn. Two of the victims were Jewish.
The latest victim, 78-year-old Rahmatollah Vahidipour, was last seen alive at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, and was found dead at his store, the She-She Boutique at 834 Flatbush Avenue, at 7:11 p.m. the same day. He was shot three times in the head and torso.
The three homicides are thought to be connected because .22 caliber shell casings found at the scene were from the same gun used in similar fatal shootings on July 6 and August 2.
Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne told Metro it is as yet unknown whether the ethnicity of the victims was a motive in their murders, but personnel from the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force were added to the investigation for their expertise.
The four individuals being sought by the cops are not being classified as suspects for now, but police believe they make have information on the crimes given that they were seen on surveillance camera in the proximity of the scene of the shooting and at around the same time.
The four individuals were captured on surveillance camera between 6:00 p.m. and 6:52 p.m.
They are identified as follows, and a surveillance video is included below.
John Doe Duffle Bag (seen in the video below): White male seen just after 6 p.m. on a camera outside of 786 Flatbush Ave walking north on Flatbush Ave between Caton Ave and Martense Street, and again three minutes later at 6:03 on a camera outside of 738A Flatbush Ave, walking northbound on Flatbush Ave between Woodruff Ave and Parkside Ave.
Jane Doe Long Coat: Black female with glasses and a scarf around her neck, seen just after 6 p.m. on a video camera outside 786 Flatbush Ave, walking northbound on Flatbush between Caton and Martense.
Jon Doe Bubble Jacket: Black male seen running southbound on Flatbush Avenue between Linden Boulevard and Church Avenue at 6:52 p.m.
Jane Doe Green Jacket: Black female with a head scarf, also seen running southbound on Flatbush Avenue between Linden Boulevard and Church Avenue at 6:52 p.m. She was seen approximately seven seconds later running just behind JD Bubble Coat, and taking off her green jacket. It was found in a nearby trash can. These two individuals are both visible in the video below.
