Imam executed in NYC: Gunman shoots dead Queens religious leader and his assistant as they leave mosque before an angry crowd gathers at the scene to blame Trump 

An imam and his assistant were shot and killed in broad daylight as they walked home from a mosque in Queens.

Police said a gunman walked up to religious leader, Maulama Akonjee, 55, on Saturday afternoon as he and his assistant, Thara Uddin, 64, were leaving the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in Ozone Park.

Both men were rushed to Jamaica hospital, where Akonjee, a married father-of-three, was pronounced dead. 

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Imam, Maulama Akonjee (left), was shot dead in broad daylight as he and his assistant Thara Uddin (right), left a mosque in Queens

Imam Akonjee and Uddin, were approached by a gunman who shot them in the back of the head. Uddin was also reportedly shot in the chest. Hours after the men were gunned down members of the community (pictured) gathered at a rally near the crime scene 

Several members of the Bangladeshi Muslim community spoke during the rally calling the shootings a 'hate crime' 

His assistant died about fours later.

Imam Akonjee was described as a revered religious leader.

He came to Queens from Bangladesh a little less than two years ago, according to the New York Daily News. 

Earlier on Saturday, shortly after the shooting, a crowd of angry Muslim men gathered at the scene insisting it was a hate crime, saying the two men were specifically targeted.

Religious leaders (pictured) held a press conference demanding justice for the tragic shootings at the Mosque of Imam Maulama Akonjee, Al Furqan

A man cries while community members and religious leaders pray together near the area where Imam Akonjee and Uddin were shot 

The community mourned the loss their beloved religious leaders on into the night during the rally 

'That's not what America is about,' local resident Khairul Islam told the newspaper. 

'We blame Donald Trump for this ... Trump and his drama has created Islamophobia.' 

Police said they received multiple 911 calls of two males being shot at the corner of Liberty Avenue and 79 Street around 1.50pm.

Both men were rushed to Jamaica hospital, where Akonjee, a married father-of-three, was pronounced dead. His assistant died about fours later

 The suspect, who fled the scene on foot, is still at large as police continue the hunt for the man. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing

Both men suffered gunshot wounds to the back of the head and were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. 

Imam Akonjee was pronounced dead at the hospital while his assistant died hours later.

Uddin's brother, Mashuk Uddin, told the Daily News that a bullet tore through his brother's brain. 

Thara Uddin had also been shot in the chest. He was on life support at the hospital before he passed away. 

The two victims were heading to Mashuk Uddin's house when they were attacked.

Mashuk Uddin told the newspaper that he's 'very shocked', adding that his brother had no 'problems with anybody'.

Uddin's brother, Mashuk Uddin, said that a bullet tore through his brother's brain. Community members gathered behind the police tape surrounding the crime scene Saturday evening during a rally 

Members (pictured) of the Bangladeshi Muslim community held the rally around 8pm at the site where Imam Akonjee and his associate Uddin were fatally shot while walking home from a mosque

Police have said that there's no indication the men were targeted because of their faith. But speakers (pictured) at the rally in Queens say they fear the men could be victims of a hate crime

Scores of people gathered at the shooting site chanted 'We want justice!' Millat Uddin, a member of the mosque, has called on authorities to treat the killings as a hate crime

Outraged members of the community rallied near the crime scene demanding justice be served for the tragic killings of two religious leaders 

'He just goes to the mosque, prays and goes home.'

Around 8pm Saturday outraged members of the Bangladeshi Muslim community held a rally at the site where Imam Akonjee and his associate Uddin were fatally shot.

Sarah Sayeed, a member of Mayor Bill de Blasio's staff, who serves as a liaison to Muslim communities, attended the rally and said: 'I understand the fear because I feel it myself. 

'I understand the anger. But it's very important to mount a thorough investigation.'

Police said they haven't determined a motive for the killings and that there's no indication the men were targeted because of their faith.

But speakers at the rally in Queens say they fear the men could be victims of a hate crime. 

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, an advocacy group, held a news conference near the crime scene, where Kobir Chowdhury, 40, a leader at another local mosque, said: 'Read my lips: This is a hate crime' directed at Islam.' 

Earlier on Saturday, Chowdhury also told the Daily News that the shooting was 'just a pure, blind, hate crime'.

Scores of people gathered at the shooting site and chanted: 'We want justice!'

Millat Uddin, a member of the mosque, has called on authorities to treat the killings as a hate crime.

'The community's heart is totally broken,' said Uddin, who is not related to Thara Uddin. 

'It's a great misery. It's a great loss to the community and it's a great loss to the society.'

He told the Daily News: 'People being shot in the head in broad daylight is unheard of. Killing people brutally, like they're an animal.'

The daughter of Imam Akonjee said her father had no enemies.

Naima Akonjee, 28, one of the imam's seven children, said she rushed to her parents' home after the shooting.

She said her father used to call her just to check up on whether she had eaten properly. She'd tell him, 'Why are you caring about me?'

'And he said, "If I'm not caring about you, who will?"' she recalled.

She said her father didn't have 'any problems with anyone' and that her father and Uddin were close friends who always walked together to the mosque from their homes on the same street. 

Earlier in the day and shortly after the shooting a crowd of angry Muslim men (pictured) gathered at the scene insisting it was a hate crime, saying the two men were specifically targeted

Local residents were outraged after the shooting that happened between 79th Street and Liberty Avenue. A man gestures towards the place where Imam Akonjee was killed

Several residents said they were shocked, angry and feared for their lives following the shooting

The two victims were apparently heading to Mashuk Uddin's house when they were attacked

The imam's nephew, Rahi Majid, 26, told the Daily News that he isn't 'sure what kind of an animal would kill that man', adding that his uncle wouldn't 'hurt a fly'.

Local residents described the imam as a pious, well-respected member of the community, the Daily News reported.

Worshipper Shahin Chowdhury said he had advised people to be careful walking around, especially when in traditional clothing. Imam Akonjee and Uddin were dressed in their traditional Muslim garb at the time of the shooting. 

He called the imam a 'wonderful person' with a voice that made his Koran readings especially compelling.

Witnesses said the shooter was tall and Hispanic.

They said the man was carrying a large handgun and wearing a dark blue shirt and short pants.

During a press conference Deputy Inspector Henry Lautner said that a preliminary investigation 'revealed that the two victims were walking northbound on 79th Street and as they were turning onto Liberty Avenue, they were approached from behind'. 

He added that video surveillance showed 'a male with medium complexion dressed in a dark polo shirt and shorts' approaching the two religious leaders.

Local residents described the imam as a pious, well-respected member of the community

One local resident blamed 'Donald Trump' for the shooting, saying 'Trump and his drama created Islamophobia'

Kobri Chowdhury, the president of a second neighborhood mosque said the shooting was 'just a pure, blind, hate crime'

Officials said the gunfire erupted a block away from the elevated A train station.

The suspect, who fled the scene on foot, is still at large as police continue the hunt for the man. 

Lautner said investigators 'are currently conducting an extensive canvass of the area for video and additional witnesses'. 

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

Witnesses said the shooter was tall and Hispanic. They said the man was carrying a large handgun and wearing a dark blue shirt and short pants

The imam's nephew, Rahi Majid, said he isn't 'sure what kind of an animal would kill that man', adding that his uncle wouldn't 'hurt a fly'. Deputy Inspector Henry Lautner (center) holding a press conference near the scene 

Officials said the gunfire erupted a block away from the elevated A train station. Investigators pictured at the scene of the crime