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November 18, 2012

NYC boutique owner becomes third victim to be killed with the same gun

The Associated Press Associated Press

NEW YORK — A New York City boutique owner was fatally shot in the head with the same gun that killed two other shopkeepers over the summer.

The shop owner was behind the counter of She She in Brooklyn’s Flatbush section when he was shot Friday night, The Daily News reported. The gunman dragged his body toward the back of the store and covered it with clothing, the newspaper reported.

Police have identified the victim as 78-year-old Rahmatollah Vahidipour of Great Neck on Long Island. He suffered gunshot wounds to the head and torso, police said.

“He was quiet and worked hard,” said Leon Nwabueze, who owns the Nanso clothing shop across the street from the victim’s store.

Richard Vinson, 63, who has lived next door to the boutique for four years, called the victim “a very nice gentleman.”

“He was a hardworking man; he’d open the store early in the morning and he’d still be there until 7:30, 8 o’clock in the evening,” Vinson told reporters.

Nwabueze said Vahidipour closed his store each Saturday to observe the Jewish Sabbath.

No one has been arrested in the three shootings, which happened in a 5-mile radius. Police say they don’t know the motive behind any of the killings.

None of the targeted shops had surveillance cameras, according to published reports.

On July 6, clothing store owner Mohamed Gebeli was killed inside Valentino Fashion in Bay Ridge. On Aug. 2, Isaac Kadare was found dead at his Amazing 99 Cents Deal shop in Bensonhurst.

Authorities are offering rewards of $22,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the three homicides.

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