The NYPD is warning Brooklyn shopkeepers to be on the lookout for a man who killed a store owner in Bensonhurst after ballistics tests linked him to another shopkeeper's death in Bay Ridge last month.
Community Affairs officers are going shop to shop with the suspect's sketch, handing them out and informing shop owners to be alert.
On Thursday, two customers discovered the body of 59-year-old Isaac Kadare in an aisle at his Amazing 99 cents Deals shop on 86th Street. The medical examiner confirmed on Friday that Kadare suffered a gunshot wound to the head and a sharp force injury to his neck, ruling it a homicide.
On July 6, the body of 65-year-old Mohamed Gebeli was found by friends, with a gunshot wound to the his neck, inside Valentino Fashion on 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
As of Saturday morning, police were offering a $12,000 reward for any information that could lead to an arrest.
On Saturday afternoon, Brooklyn State Sen. Marty Golden tweeted: "An arrest must be made in the killing of Mohamed Gebeli and Isaac Kadare and I am offering a $5000 reward in each case."
Golden told NBC 4 New York Saturday that the murders were causing fear in store owners and residents alike.
"Neighbors are scared. Clerks are worried about staying open late," Golden said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.
The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCrimeStoppers.com or texting tips to 274637(CRIMES) and entering TIP577.
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