A Staten Island man accused of killing three Brooklyn shopkeepers was indicted Tuesday on first degree murder charges.
Salvatore Perrone, 64, appeared in Brooklyn Criminal Court to face charges that he shot and killed the men between July and November.
Investigators found a duffel bag in Perrone's girlfriend's apartment containing a rifle that matched shells found where the store keepers were killed, police said.
Mohamed Gebeli, 65; Isaac Kadare, 59; and Rahmatollah Vahidipour, 78, were all found dead inside their stores. The men were of Middle Eastern descent.
They were all shot with a .22 caliber rifle, according to investigators.
Perrone, who was given the name "John Doe Duffel Bag," because he was seen on surveillance video carrying a large bag near the scene of last Friday's murder of Vahidipour was apprehended by police after a Bay Ridge pharmacy employee recognized him as a regular.
Police say the video footage was a big break in the case for investigators.
Perrone confessed to the murders only after talking to someone he thought was a CIA agent, according to law-enforcement officials.
Police say they have not cited a motive but believe the shootings were racially motivated.
Authorities say the suspect may have been planning another murder.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:10 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:10:53 GMT
AP photo
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested Thursday for allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building, police said. The troubled celebrity is also accused of throwing her "drug paraphernalia"
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested Thursday for allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building, police said. The troubled celebrity is also accused of throwing her "drug paraphernalia"
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:17 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:17:32 GMT
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 10:11 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:11:26 GMT
An Edison, N.J., police officer was arrested and accused of setting fire to the home of a police captain in his department, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
An Edison, N.J., police officer was arrested and accused of setting fire to the home of a police captain in his department, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:04 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:04:45 GMT
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner launched his campaign for mayor of New York City this week, but his website seems to indicate he is running for office in Pittsburgh. The stylized and colorized image used in
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Thursday, May 23 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:49:53 GMT
AP photo
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:50:04 GMT
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 7:42 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:42:40 GMT
The Bronx Zoo has unveiled its animatronics dinosaur exhibit. The exhibit, called Dinosaur Safari, is something different from the zoo, which is better known for its exhibits of living animals. The ride
The Bronx Zoo has unveiled its exhibit of animatronics. The exhibit, called Dinosaur Safari, is something different from the zoo, which is better known for its exhibits of living animals.
Salvatore Perrone, 64.
