NYPD officers arrested Jesus Acosta, 31, in connection with two shootings that killed two men and injured a third earlier this week.
Police announced Acosta, of the Bronx, had been apprehended on Saturday morning. The NYPD said he was linked to an Aug. 23 shooting at a restaurant in Brownsville, Brooklyn and another at a bodega in the South Bronx on Aug. 25.
The late night Brownsville shooting, which occurred at American Best Pizza and Wings on Rockaway Avenue claimed the life of employee MD Yousef, 44. Another 39-year-old man was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital in stable condition.
The South Bronx shooting at 149 Grill & Deli in Melrose two nights later killed Tayvon Shuler, 33. Police say the gunman also took an unknown amount of cash from behind the register before fleeing.
The FBI had offered a $25,000 reward on Wednesday for any information about Acosta’s whereabouts. The United Bodegas of America also offered a $10,000 reward for information.
Leaders with the group called for panic buttons in bodegas and laws that would allow trained and licensed bodega owners and workers to carry guns.
“We thank the NYPD and FBI for capturing Jesus Acosta, but the justice system failed when a violent repeat offender with 13 prior arrests was released and returned to our streets. Two innocent people are dead. We cannot wait for another Jesus Acosta,” UBA President Radahmes Rodriguez said in a statement.
Acosta had served 11 years in prison on assault and criminal weapons charges, according to state correction records. He had been on parole as of April of this year.
Police did not provide any additional information about Acosta’s arrest. Attorney information for Acosta was not immediately available.