Jesus Acosta charged with double murder after NYPD manhunt in Bronx and Brooklyn

Jesus Acosta, 31, was arrested Saturday after a multi-day manhunt and charged with two counts of murder in separate shootings in Brooklyn and the Bronx.

Bronx and Brooklyn murder suspect arraigned after anonymous 911 tip led to arrest

Google News MT — Crime (en) reports that Jesus Acosta, 31, was arraigned on Sunday following his Saturday morning arrest, charged with two counts of murder and attempted murder in connection with a pair of fatal shootings days apart in New York City.

Acosta was located at a park on Watson Avenue and Morrison Avenue in the Melrose section of the Bronx — near a police precinct — after an anonymous 911 call directed officers to his position. When asked in court whether he had done what he was accused of, Acosta responded only: "God is good, God is great."

The first shooting took place at American Best Wings and Pizza in Brownsville, Brooklyn, on a Sunday. Police say Acosta shot Mohammed Rasel in the leg before firing at Rasel's friend and coworker, 44-year-old MD Yousuf, in the head. Yousuf, a father of two daughters, was killed at the scene.

Two days later, just after midnight on Tuesday, Acosta is accused of entering the 149 Grill bodega in the Melrose section of the Bronx. Surveillance footage shows the gunman drawing a weapon and shooting a customer, 33-year-old Tayvon Shuler — known to friends as Plucky — before going behind the counter and stealing cash from the register as customers and employees fled. Shuler later died at hospital.

Friends of Shuler expressed relief upon hearing of the arrest. "He deserves everything he got coming to him," said a woman identified as Mon'ee.

Fernando Mateo of United Bodegas of America said the arrest was welcome news but called for additional measures to protect the workers his organisation represents.

Acosta has 13 prior arrests. His criminal record begins with an armed robbery at age 14. He served 10 years in state prison for shooting a man on a subway platform and had been released on parole in April, weeks before the two fatal shootings.

Prior to his arrest, the FBI had posted a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to Acosta's location and apprehension. United Bodegas of America had separately offered $10,000 for a tip resulting in an arrest.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)