A manhunt is underway for a gunman the NYPD believes is behind two violent incidents this week: a shooting in a Brooklyn fast food restaurant that left one worker dead and another wounded and the hold-up of a Bronx bodega in which a customer was shot in the chest.
Cops named the suspect as 31-year-old Jesus Acosta and released surveillance footage of him as they asked the public’s help tracking him down.
Cops believe Acosta shot a 44-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant to death moments after midnight Sunday inside American Best Wings & Pizza on Rockaway Ave. in Brownsville, where the victim worked. Another worker there, age 39, was shot in the leg and is recovering, police said.
A 44-year-old man was shot in the head and a 39-year-old man was blasted in the right leg inside American Best Wings & Pizza in Brownsville moments after midnight, cops said. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News)
Just over 48 hours later Acosta burst into 149 Grill & Deli on E. 149th St. near Walton Ave. in Mott Haven and shot a 33-year-old customer in the chest, according to cops.
A worker at the register then stepped away, apparently after the gun was pointed at him, with video showing the gunman grabbing as much cash as he could before fleeing.
It appears he also grabbed papers from the shot customer’s victim’s backpack, video shows, though it’s not clear if Acosta knows the victim.
The shot customer was taken to Lincoln Hospital in stable condition.
Police released images of Jesus Acosta, wanted for killing a fast food worker in Brooklyn and shooting a deli customer in the Bronx (inset) before stealing money from the register and running off. (United Bodegas of America; Google)
Cops say Acosta’s last known address is in the Soundview area of the Bronx. He is described as 5-foot-11 and has “Bronx” tattooed on his hand and “Bobby” tattooed on his left forearm.
Anyone with information on Acosta’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.