The FBI’s New York office posted a $25,000 reward, and the bodegas’ union doubled their offering as the search for a gunman believed to have killed two people in different stores, in different boroughs, within a 48-hour window stretched into a third day Thursday.
Authorities have identified the suspect in the deadly Bronx and Brooklyn shootings as 31-year-old Jesus Acosta. They say he is the one seen on surveillance video firing at a customer in a bodega on East 149th Street in Concourse just after midnight Tuesday, then running behind the counter and stealing fistfuls of cash.
The victim shot and killed was identified Wednesday as 33-year-old Tayvon Shuler.
Two days before that shooting, just after midnight Sunday in Brooklyn, police say the same suspect was believed to have been the person who shot two restaurant employees in Brownsville, killing one of them.
Records show the suspect has a criminal history. Acosta served 10 years in prison for assault and criminal possession of a weapon before his release on parole in April.
Mamdani was asked at an unrelated press conference Wednesday if, given Acosta’s record, more should have been done — either before or after his release — to prevent incidents such as the two deaths that just occurred.
“To me, every day is an opportunity for us to do more,” Mamdani said. “We’re proud of the fact that we’re reducing shootings and murders to the lowest levels in recorded history in our city, and we also know that there’s always more work to be done — especially as we’re speaking about this in the Bronx, where in recent weeks we’ve seen the kinds of shootings that have torn families apart.”
The mayor expressed confidence the NYPD would bring Acosta into custody.
Police say he has two distinctive tattoos: One says “Bronx” on his hand, and the other on his left forearm reads “Bobby.” Acosta was last seen running away from the East 149th Street scene in sweatpants and a maroon hooded sweatshirt; cops said he ditched the latter about a half-block away.
The United Bodegas of America is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
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