On a summer Saturday in New York City, Homod Ali Saeidi, an 87-year-old Yemeni American man, followed his daily custom. An active and devout man, he was known for walking several miles each day, checking on friends and family, and faithfully attending prayers at his local mosque. On July 8, 2023, as he made his way for the noon prayer, his routine was shattered in an act of senseless violence that spanned two boroughs.
While walking in Queens, he was shot in the back, an innocent victim in a terrifying and random shooting spree.
The perpetrator, riding a scooter, unleashed a series of shootings across Brooklyn and Queens that morning, leaving a trail of victims. In a span of about half an hour, four people were struck by gunfire. Saeidi was the second person shot and the only one to be fatally wounded. After being shot, he struggled to remain standing before collapsing as bystanders rushed to his aid. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. A father of six who had built a life in America after immigrating from Yemen and opening grocery stores, Saeidi was remembered by his family and neighbors as a kind and peaceful man who was proud of his active lifestyle.
The New York City Police Department quickly launched a search for the gunman. About two hours after the rampage began, police apprehended 25-year-old Thomas Abreu in Queens. He was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder, attempted murder, and weapon possession. Authorities recovered a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine.
Following his arrest, Abreu was arraigned from a hospital bed. During questioning, he made bizarre statements to the police, claiming that various groups were after him. The attacks appeared to be entirely random, with no connection between the shooter and his victims. The community mourned the loss of Homod Ali Saeidi, with hundreds gathering for his funeral to remember a beloved elder whose life was tragically cut short while he was on his way to pray.
