`Duffel Bag’ suspect taken into custody

November 21, 2012 By Colleen Long Associated Press
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New York City police detectives Wednesday recovered a sawed-off rifle believed to have been used in the mysterious shooting deaths of three businessmen of Middle Eastern descent, and a person was in custody, a law enforcement official said.

The Ruger 10-22 rifle had a makeshift light attached to its barrel and was found inside a duffel bag belonging to a balding, middle-aged man – identified by the Daily News as Staten Island resident Salvatore Perrone — who was seen on surveillance footage moments after the most recent killing on Friday in Brooklyn, the official said. 

 The rifle uses the same .22-caliber ammunition that has been found at all three crime scenes. The suspect, also known by police as “John Doe Duffel Bag,” was a clothing salesman, and neighbors and family members of all three victims told the Daily News they remember seeing him near their stores.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said earlier this week that authorities had not ruled out a possible serial killer. A motive remained unclear.

The most recent killing happened Friday afternoon when Rahmatollah Vahidipour, a Jewish man from Iran, was shot three times in the head and chest at his store, the She She Boutique.

After the latest killing, detectives discovered the same gun was used in the fatal shootings of two other shopkeepers when ballistics matched the .22-caliber gun shell casings on all three. On July 6, Mohamed Gebeli, 65, an Egyptian immigrant and a Muslim, was found shot in the back of his shop, Valentino Fashion Inc. On Aug. 6, Isaac Kadare, 59, also Egyptian but Jewish, was shot in the head in his store, Amazing 99 Cent Deal.

There were other similarities, authorities said: The shops all lacked surveillance cameras, and the owners were alone in the store. The bodies were all partially obscured by clothing or, in one case, a box. The locations of the shops form a triangle and are each about 4 miles apart, with addresses that contain the number eight. Money was taken from everyone but Vahidipour, 78, who had $171 in his pocket.

Police earlier this week said they were looking to speak to four people who possibly witnessed the most recent incident and released video and clear images of the four, but zeroed in on the man with the bag. 

The bag contained .22-caliber ammunition, black gloves and women’s stockings, and two knives — one that may have had blood on it, the official said.

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