Crime & Safety

Person of Interest Questioned in Brooklyn Shopkeepers Murders

A .22-caliber rifle and three knives were discovered in the apartment of a man whose image is believed to have been seen in the vicinity of the three murders.

 

A .22-caliber rifle and three knives were discovered in an apartment after police questioned a person of interest Tues. Nov. 20, in the murders of three Brooklyn store owners, including the murder of Flatbush Avenue She-She Boutique owner Rahmatollah Vahidipour, 78, on Friday, Nov. 16.

Police discovered the man dubbed by cops as "John Doe Duffel Bag" at a Bay Ridge pharmacy Tuesday afternoon, and then brought him to the 68th Precinct stationhouse where he was voluntarily questioned before moving on to the 67th Precinct for more questioning, the News said.

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The man, identified by the News as Salvatore Perrone, sells merchandise to shops, police said. Cops found the .22-caliber firearm in Perrone's girlfriend's apartment Wednesday, the News said. 

Ballistic tests will determine if the gun is the same one used to kill the three merchants.

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The News noted the gun was found in a duffel bag along with ammunition for the firearm and three knives, including a kitchen knife that appeared to have blood on it. The other knives were described as folding Buck knives, the News said. 

Bensonhurst shopkeep Isaac Kadare, 59, was shot in the head and stabbed in the neck Aug. 2, the News noted. 

Perrone, who has been arrested in the past for offenses including DWI, burglary, theft and stalking, has not been labeled a suspect, but police are investigating why he appeared to be in the vicinity of all three murders, the News said. 

Police Tuesday night were fingerprinting every cop and detective who was at the Friday night murder scene to exclude their prints from the evidence.


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