A Buffalo man created a ruckus at a Flushing mosque on Friday afternoon when he appeared to bring a gun inside and was wrestled to the ground by a bystander while another called the authorities.
Police from the 109th Precinct in Flushing responded to a 911 call at around 1:30 p.m. on July 3 of a male with a firearm inside the Muslim Center of New York at 137-58 Geranium Ave. Officers were informed that during services the suspect was acting disorderly.
A masked man who brought a firearm into the Muslim Center of New York during Friday prayers was tackled by a bystander. The weapon turned out to be a pellet gun and the intruder was charged with menacing and harassment. Photo via Google Maps
Upon further investigation, the intruder was found to be in possession of an imitation pistol and he was taken into custody without further incidents, police said, adding there were no injuries.
Sheikh Haquue, 33, of Ashley Street in Buffalo, was booked at the 109th Precinct. He was arraigned on July 5 in Queens Criminal Court on a complaint charging him with menacing in the second degree and harassment in the second degree.
According to the criminal complaint, Haque was seen entering the mosque where he removed his baseball cap and put on a head covering and a mask. He proceeded to count his money and said, “If anybody touches my money, it’s gonna be trouble.”
The complainant told an officer from the 109th Precinct that he saw what appeared to be a gun inside the left waistband of Haque’s pants and when he saw the intruder reach for it with his right hand, he sprang into action, tackling him to the ground. Another bystander removed what turned out to be a pellet gun from Haque’s waistband, which he safeguarded until officers responded to the scene. An officer determined that it was a pellet gun that appeared to be a pistol, but it did not have a magazine to hold live ammunition, and it has a spring assist to propel metal or plastic balls.
Haque was charged with weapons possession, but he was not charged with a hate crime because there was no indication of bias during the encounter, according to a law enforcement source, who added that the men were known to each other. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Sunday before Queens Criminal Court Judge Thomas G. Wright, who set bail at $1 cash and ordered him to return to court on July 23. Haque was detained on a warrant from Pennsylvania in an unrelated case, according to the law enforcement source.
“During Friday prayers at the Muslim Center of New York in Flushing, a masked individual pulled what appeared to be a deadly weapon, which turned out to be a BB gun,” U.S. Rep. Grace Meng said, adding she was grateful to the “the brave bystanders that took action to disarm this person,” and for holding him down until police arrived.
“I’m relieved that nobody was hurt,” she said. “But acts of violence and intimidation have no place in our society, especially in any house of worship.”