BENSONHURST'S PREMIER NEWS BLOG

Police have shifted their focus from the man in the sunglasses, a sketch released earlier, to the man carrying the duffel bag in a surveillance video taken at the scene of the crime.

According to an ABC article, they may have taken someone who fits the description into custody early Tuesday afternoon.

It isn’t clear yet what, if anything, the man in this surveillance video has to do with the shopkeeper serial killer. Sources for the Post state that the same man was captured on tape in Bensonhurst, close to the site where Isaac Kadare was murdered.

Though Kelly is quick to shoot down the claim.

“That’s not the case,” he said.

Instead, Kelly pointed out that the covering of the victims’ faces with an aluminum tray, cardboard or clothing may be a significant detail.

Also, police have ruled out the man with the sunglasses, stating that he had nothing to do with the slayings, according to a New York Post article.

“That was a sketch that surfaced with one of the previous murders, it is no longer relevant,” said NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly. “That individual washed out again. That individual was somebody we wanted to talk to, who may have been in the area. He’s not a subject, he’s a person we simply wanted to speak to.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Senator Martin Golden and Councilman David Greenfield increased the reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the man wanted for the three shopkeeper murders. It’s now $40,000.

The more recent of the three shootings occurred last Friday. Rahmatolla Vahidipour, a Jewish 78-year-old grandfather of nine was murdered inside of his Flatbush Avenue store, She She Boutique.

“Our police department and community will not rest until this killer is brought to justice. We won’t allow an individual to terrorize our neighborhoods and leave business owners fearing for their lives. Someone out there has information about these cold-blooded crimes, and hopefully this reward money will motivate them to do the right thing. Anybody who noticed unusual or suspicious activity in the vicinity of any of these three shootings is urged to immediately contact the police,” said Greenfield in a press release.

Local politicians including Greenfield, Councilman Vincent Gentile and Councilman Mathieu Eugene held a meeting with the NYPD to discuss progress and strategy to capture the killer.

“I remain deeply troubled by these senseless acts of violence,” wrote Gentile in a statement. “We as residents must always remain vigilant but as the representative for Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst, I refuse to let my neighborhoods live in fear.”

Surveillance footage from a store near the scene has narrowed the police investigation to a person of interest they’re calling “Jon Doe Duffel Bag.”

As a means of precaution, store clerks are asked to avoid being alone in the shop after dark if possible. Instead, use a buddy system. Also, a video surveillance system might be a good idea since the killer has only targeted stores without surveillance.

Anyone with information is urged to immediately contact the NYPD at (800) 577-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous.

The serial killer who murdered two shopkeepers earlier this year has senselessly gunned down a third.

Rahmatolla Vahidipour is the latest victim. He was found shot inside of his Flatbush store on Friday evening. Police have linked the .22 caliber gun used in the previous murders to the shell casings found on Friday.

“Now it’s like he’s telling us, ‘It’s me again,’ ” a police source said to the New York Daily News.

The killer took the life of Mohammed Gebeli on July 6 in his Bay Ridge store, Valentino Fashion Inc. Then on August 2, he murdered Isaac Kadare in his Bensonhurst store, Amazing 99 Cent Deals.

Police are floating around several theories as to motive of the killer. Vahidipour was a devout Jewish man originally from Iran. Gebeli was a Muslim man hailing from Egypt and Kadare was Jewish from Egypt as well.

All three were of Middle Eastern descent.

“I hope he’s not targeting owners because they’re Jewish or from the Middle East because that’s becoming personal,” said Norman Mann, a Middle Eastern owner of a Flatbush Avenue store.

Investigators think that the killer entered the store right before closing time and shot Vahidipour in the head and chest. Then, he dragged the store owner’s body to the back of the shop and threw clothing on it to cover it up.

“I hope they catch the son of a bitch,” said Gebeli’s son, Mourad, who now runs his father’s Bay Ridge store.

Vahidipour’s family is devastated. The grandfather of nine was supposed to head over to his grandson’s bar mitzvah over the weekend.

“We are miserable,” said his daughter Yasmin Vahidipour at the family’s home in Great Neck, Long Island. “He was kind. He was loyal. He was the best father. He was the best (husband) that ever lived.”

Another theory police are investigating is a theory based on the addresses of the stores and a numerology link. Kadare’s store was at 1877 86th Street, Gebeli’s store was located at 7718 Fifth Avenue and Vahidipour’s She She Boutique was at 834 Flatbush Avenue. The address for each crime scene features the number 8.

Robbery is not considered a motive as money was taken from Gebeli and Kadare, but not Vahidipour.

Police are hunting for the killer, who is about 5-feet-5 and 140 pounds. They are offering a $12,000 reward for any information that leads to a conviction of the killer.

Amazing 99-Cent & Up Deals, the place where store-owner and father of four Isaac Kadare was murdered is on the market.

The body was found at 1877 86th Street by two customers at about on August 2. His wife and children, who often helped him out in the store, obviously do not want to keep hold of the business where Kadare was killed.

Kadare’s murder was later connected to the July murder of Bay Ridge shopkeeper Mohammed Gebeli. Both men were shot in their with a .22 caliber gun in their stores.

Police released a sketch of the suspect and some clues to his identity, but nothing has been heard of the case since. Whether the trail has gone cold or they are waiting for the right time to act remains to be seen.

Source: Google Maps

From the offices of Councilman David Greenfield:

Councilman David G. Greenfield and Sephardic Bikur Holim have joined together to launch a memorial fund in support of the family of Isaac Kadare, who was murdered late last Thursday night. Mr. Kadare, a 59-year-old father of four, was murdered inside his discount store, Amazing 99 Cent Deals, on 86^th Street in Bensonhurst. This senseless murder of Mr. Kadare has left his wife and four children overcome with grief and struggling to comprehend life without the family’s breadwinner.

After mourning with the family yesterday at their Midwood home during a shiva visit, Greenfield worked with Ronnie Oved at Sephardic Bikur Holim to establish the fund in support of Mr. Kadare’s children, which includes Kadare’s youngest – a seven year-old girl. Greenfield personally donated $250 to start the fund and encourages everyone in the community to give within their means. Mr. Kadare is described by friends as a devoted father and hard worker who was dedicated to his family and community and never hesitated to help those in need.

“This was a dedicated family man who was murdered while simply trying to earn a living and better life for his wife and children. This could have happened to anyone, and it is our responsibility as a community to come together in support of the Kadare family and make sure they are helped following this devastating loss. I urge everyone in the community to join me in giving what they can to this memorial fund, which hopefully will help the family as they struggle to come to grips with this tragedy,” said Greenfield.

“In this time of need, we must do what we can for the Kadare family. I know that our entire community has been shaken by this horrific crime. We now have the chance to help Mr. Kadare’s wife and children during this terrible and difficult time and give them one less thing to worry about,” said Ronnie Oved of Sephardic Bikur Holim.

One hundred percent of all proceeds collected will directly benefit the Kadare family. The fund is being administered by Sephardic Bikur Holim, which received Charity Navigator’s 3 star rating for exceeding the industry standard in sound fiscal management in 2012. To contribute to the fund please make a check out to “Sephardic Bikur Holim” with “Kadare Memorial Fund” in the memo and send it to their office at 425 Kings Highway, Brooklyn, New York 11223. Donations can also be made online by going to sbhonline.org and clicking on the link to contribute to the Kadare Memorial Fund.

In addition to establishing the memorial fund for the Kadare family, Greenfield teamed up with the Sephardic Community Federation to offer $5,000 for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for Mr. Kadare’s death. In the days since, the reward fund has grown to $22,000 through donations from the NYPD, Crime Stoppers and other elected officials including Senator Martin Golden. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.

The NYPD is not taking any chances when it comes to another murder in the local area. They posted a marked cruiser car outside of a nearby eatery whose address has a similar combination of numbers as the two stores the shopkeepers were murdered at.

Valentino Fashion, Mohammed Gebeli’s store, is located at 7718 Fifth Avenue and Isaac Kadare’s Amazing 99 Cent Deals store is at 1877 86th Street.

The police parked right outside of the East Ocean Buffet at 1778 86th Street. Though no one has confirmed that the numbers theory plays a relevant part in the shootings, they have not ruled it out yet either.

As for the cops outside of the buffet, they deny any assignment related to address numbers. Instead, they said that they were patrolling the entire area.

“This is the 62nd Precinct, but other officers have been brought into the area. We’re looking for the guy,” said Officer Cruz, of the 94th Precinct, who was outside the buffet with his partner.

The manager and staff at the restaurant were relieved at the beefed up police presence. The killings have neighborhood staff very anxious.

“We all do feel better that there are officers on the street,” she said. “It definitely makes me feel safer that I can see them.”

A sketch of the suspect

Police have identified a man and woman they hope to question in relation to the murders of Mohammed Gebeli and Isaac Kadare.

The couple is not suspected of killing the men, however, they may have information that could lead police to the killer.

In the meanwhile, local business owners are doing their best to stay safe during this frightening time.

“When it starts getting around dusk time, lock them [the doors],” said Bonita Bravo to NBC News. He works  at a money transfer business near Kadare’s 99-cent store.

Bravo has decided not to let customers into the store without them ringing the bell and him screening them first.

Store owners and employees, please be alert and stay safe.

Source: bayridgejournal.blogspot.com

NYPD ballistics teams have linked the senseless murder of Isaac Kadare with the July 6th murder of Mohammed Gebeli. Both men were shot in their shops with a .22 caliber gun.

Police officers are going door to door in local stores warning shopkeepers to be careful and on the lookout for the suspect. They’re handing out wanted posters with his image.

The posters have also been hung all throughout the neighborhoods depicting the ruthless killer, according to Bay Ridge Journal blog.

“Neighbors are scared. Clerks are worried about staying open late,” Senator Martin Golden said.

Witnesses have come forward to describe the suspected killer. They said he seemed “disturbed,” wearing headphones, saying he was “putting a bullet in someone’s head.”

They also said he ran from a Mexican bakery near the scene of the crime, bumped into a witness and yelled. Then, jumped into a black or gray two-door jeep.

He is said to be about 5’5″ and weighing around 140 pounds. He walked into Kadare’s store wearing a ski mask.

Police officials also mention that there may be a significance in the street numbers and addresses of the two stores. Kadare’s store is at 1877 86th Street and Gebeli’s store is at 7718 Fifth Avenue. They believe the numbers to be numerical anagrams, though the meanings have not been released yet.

There is a $12,000 reward offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.

Source: Google Maps

The body found last night at 86th Street and 19th Avenue belongs to a father of four and a small business owner, Isaac Kadare, 59.

He was found on the floor of his 99-cent store at 1877 86th Street by two customers at about 8:45 p.m. He was unconscious, so they called the police.

EMT personnel who arrived at the scene stated he had suffered from head trauma. An employee later said that the police were investigating this as a probable homicide. However, a police source mentioned that they may have been a heart attack followed by a fall. Nothing has been publicly confirmed yet, though police are calling this suspicious.

Kadare owned the two stores on the bottom floor and rented out the apartments above. He came to the United States from Israel and has two teenage daughters, a son and a 10-year-old daughter.

Neighbors remembered him as a “nice guy” and a “good person.” They said that his children often work in the store with him, but that they must have left a little early last night.

His family showed up quickly after hearing the news. His wife and daughter were hysterical.

“I don’t even know what to say. He loved his family, his four kids,” said his wife, Nancy Kadare through tears. She was hoping to celebrate his 60th birthday together next week.

“He was a really hard-working man, I don’t get it. A person is alive one day, and the next they are not.”

A tipster said that he drove by the store last night “and saw a huge chunk of the street blocked off.”

Police are not officially calling this a homicide until the medical examiner determines the cause of death.

Councilman David Greenfield has joined with the Sephardic Community Federation to offer a $5,000 reward leading to the arrest of the anyone involved in the incident. He also released the following statement:

I am deeply saddened that such a horrific act took place in our community, as there is no place for this type of violence in our society. My condolences to the family of Isaac Kadare, including his wife and four children. By all accounts, Mr. Kadare was a kind, caring and devoted family man who never hesitated to help those in need. I am joining with the Sephardic Community Federation to offer $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for this heinous crime. We must stand together as a community and make sure the perpetrator is held accountable and taken off our streets as soon as possible.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.

UPDATE (2:10 p.m.): Senator Martin Golden is also offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

On his Twitter page he writes, “I am offering a $5,000 dollar reward to help solve the murder of Bensonhurst business owner Isaac Kadare. My sympathies are with his family.”

UPDATE (5:20 p.m.): Medical examiner’s office spokesperson Grace Bruges has been quoted as saying that the death of Isaac Kadare has been ruled a homicide.

The store owner who was found unconscious in his shop last night was stabbed in the throat and shot in the head, officials said.

There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the responsible party.