3rd NYC shop owner killed with same gun
The owner of She She boutique in Brooklyn was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head Friday, Nov. 16, 2012. Police says the same weapon was used in the recent fatal shootings of two other Brooklyn shop owners. / WCBS
NEW YORK Police say a New York City boutique owner was shot to death in the head with the same gun that killed two other shopkeepers in the same borough over the summer.
CBS Station WCBS reports a 78-year-old man working inside a Brooklyn clothing store was shot and killed Friday night. Police have determined that the .22-caliber shell casings matched those found at the scene of two earlier shopkeeper slayings.
"That would indicate that the same gun, if not the same person, had been used in all three homicides," NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Brown told WCBS.
The latest shooting happened around 7:15 p.m. Friday at the She She Boutique, at 836 Flatbush Ave. Officers responding to a 911 call found the victim unconscious and unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head, police said.
Paramedics also responded, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police identified the victim as 78-year-old Rahmatollah Vahidipour of Great Neck. He suffered three gunshot wounds to the head and torso, police said.
The N.Y. Daily News reports the gunman had dragged Vahidipour's body toward the back of the store and covered it with clothing.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said in both earlier shootings, the victims' bodies were covered with materials from the businesses, such as boxes, baking dishes and clothing.
Leon Nwabueze, who owns the Nanso clothing shop across the street from the victim's store, said Vahidipour was quiet and worked hard, and closed his store each Saturday to observe the Jewish Sabbath."
On July 6, clothing store owner Mohamed Gebeli was killed inside Valentino Fashion in Bay Ridge; and on Aug. 2, Isaac Kadare was found dead at his Amazing 99 Cents Deal shop in Bensonhurst.
Rewards of $22,000 have been offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in all three homicides. Anyone with information is asked to call the Crimestoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS.
Popular on CBSNews.com
- Young victims of deadly Okla. tornado 10 Photos
- Clean-up efforts underway in Okla. 29 Photos
- Forecasters warn: Up to 6 major storms this season
- Kids, teachers from destroyed Okla. school reunite
- Tsarnaev friend implicates dead brother, self in murders
- First funeral held for young Oklahoma tornado victim
- Body of child recovered from deadly Minn. landslide
- Boy Scouts to vote on allowing openly gay members 215 Comments
---------------------------------------------
and any gun purchased in any state without the same gun laws can be used to undermine any means you have described to 'easily solve the case'.