Elderly shooting victim, 86, was on his way to a mosque to pray when he was randomly shot

The 87-year-old man shot in New York City by an insane gunman shooting from a moped was on his way to pray at his local mosque when he was killed.

Homod Ali Saeidi was on his way to services in Queens Saturday morning when he was shot on Jamaica Avenue by a gunman identified by police as Thomas Abreu, age 25. Authorities said a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine was used in the attack that left three others injured.

Abreu now faces one murder charge, two attempted murder charges and six other gun charges.

Saeidi’s son, Ahmed Alsaedi, described his father as a man who, despite his age, was in great physical shape and ran three to four miles a day. His death comes as a shock.

“My heart is broken, my family is devastated,” Alsaedi said on Sunday. “We can’t believe something like this could happen to an 86-year-old man. It’s terrible.’

Saedi’s daily routine included running to visit a local park and then to the mosque, his son told the New York Post.

Alsaedi’s father emigrated to America from Yemen in 1962 to make a life for himself, eventually bringing his entire family with him, his son said.

The father-of-six was due to return to his native Yemen next week for a family trip, Alsaedi said.

He worked as a farmer in the United States before eventually owning supermarkets and working in real estate before retiring.

“He’s a cheerful fellow,” Alsaedi said. “He loved to joke. He has many friends.’

The son also criticized New York City’s crime problem, believing officers tied their hands to stop Abreu.

“The system needs to be re-evaluated now because the crime rate in New York City is just unbelievable,” he said.

“It’s getting worse every day. So hopefully the mayor, the commissioner or the governor will do something about it and try to give the police more power,” he added. “Because right now crime is going up, up, up.”

NYPD Detectives Assistant Chief Joseph Kenny said they believe the weapon used in the attack was a “ghost gun,” which had its serial number removed.

“We didn’t find a serial number on the gun,” Kenny said.

“We are trying to determine if it is defaced or possibly a ghost weapon. That will emerge later in our research.’

Kenny said Abreu “didn’t aim at anyone.”

He added, “He’s not following anyone. While riding his scooter, he randomly shoots people.”

The first shooting occurred around 11 a.m. Saturday in the Cypress Hills neighborhood of Brooklyn, where the gunman shot and wounded a 21-year-old man in the shoulder.

Abreu then crossed into the Queens neighborhood and, at 11:30 a.m., shot the 86-year-old man in the back at a nail salon in the Richmond Hill neighborhood.

Less than ten minutes later, Abreu opened fire again on 134th Street, shooting one man.

Abreu shot and wounded his third victim at 11:35 a.m. on 126th Street and Hillside Avenue, punching him in the face and leaving him in critical condition.

The gunman’s fourth and final victim — a 63-year-old man — was shot in the shoulder shortly afterwards.

Abreu was apprehended by police shortly after 1 p.m. near the Jamaica train station, on Sutphin Blvd. and 94th Avenue.

He was recognized after an image of the gunman was sent to each officer’s cell phone.

Edward Caban, the NYPD’s acting commissioner, thanked officers involved in detaining the shooter and said the motive was unclear.

Abreu had a previous arrest for a traffic violation.

“A firearm was found inside the scooter — a 9mm handgun and an extended magazine,” said Caban.

“Considering the violence this individual would commit, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all the men and women in the NYPD.”