Ballistics Match Two Shopkeep Murder Scenes to Person of Interest's Gun

Ballistic evidence from two scenes where Brooklyn store owners were murdered were slain have been matched to a gun found in the home of the girlfriend of a man police are questioning in connection with the case, NBC New York reports.

Police found 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 man, who was seen on surveillance video near the scene of the Nov. 16 murder of Flatbush Avenue She-She Boutique owner Rahmatollah Vahidipour, 78, was also linked to a video in recovered at the time of an earlier homicide.

Authorities are awaiting ballistics test on a third crime scene, NBC reported.

Law enforcement sources told NBC the suspect stated he was near the scene of the shooting at the Valentino Fashion Inc. in Bay Ridge on July 6. Mohamed Gebeli, 65, an Egyptian immigrant and a Muslim, was found shot in the back of his shop.

Detectives found .22-caliber gun shell casings at that crime scene and also at the scene where Isaac Kadare, 59, also Egyptian but Jewish, was shot in the head in his Amazing 99 Cent Deal store Aug. 6. The same casings were found at the scene of Vahidipour's murder. 

The Daily News noted a .22-caliber firearm 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 and two folding Buck knives.

In addition to being shot, Kadare was stabbed in the neck, the News noted. The blood on the recovered knife is being tested for DNA evidence, NBC said.

Law enforcement sources told NBC the man's girlfriend and ex-wife are cooperating with detectives. NBC noted the suspect is a fabric and garment salesman, and has several prior arrests, including for stalking and burglary.