A man accused of killing an 86-year-old man and wounding three other people in a series of seemingly random shootings while riding a scooter in New York City was arraigned Monday on charges including murder and attempted murder, officials said. prosecutors.
Thomas Abreu, 25, was arraigned at a hospital for five shootings that occurred in Queens over about 10 minutes Saturday morning, a spokeswoman for Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. An additional person was shot and injured in Brooklyn.
“The streets of two boroughs became scenes of terror as this defendant allegedly rode his scooter and fired indiscriminately at pedestrians and others,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement.
Abreu did not plead guilty. He left a message seeking comment with his lawyer.
Witnesses identified Abreu as the gunman who shot Hamod Saeidi, 86, shortly before 11:30 a.m., prosecutors said. Relatives said Saeidi, who died, was on his way to the mosque to pray.
Another victim shot in Queens was struck in the head when Abreu fired at a parked minivan and is in intensive care at a hospital, according to the criminal complaint, while a third victim was shot in the shoulder.
Prosecutors said Abreu shot two other people in Queens and did not hit them.
Abreu was arrested later Saturday based on witness statements and surveillance footage, prosecutors said.
