A manhunt is underway for an ex-con released from prison earlier this year who the NYPD believes is now behind two headline-grabbing shootings this week that left one man dead and two wounded during a pair of robberies.
Cops believe Jesus Acosta shot two workers, one fatally, while attempting to rob a Brooklyn fast food restaurant Sunday and then just two days later shot a Bronx bodega customer in the chest during a caught-on-camera heist.
Cops released surveillance footage of the 31-year-old suspect Tuesday as they asked the public’s help tracking him down.
Cops say Acosta shot a 44-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant to death moments after midnight Sunday inside American Best Wings & Pizza on Rockaway Ave. in Brownsville, where the victim worked. Another worker there, age 39, was shot in the leg and is recovering, police said.
Acosta shot the victims while trying to rob the eatery, police said.
Just over 48 hours later Acosta burst into 149 Grill & Deli on E. 149th St. near Walton Ave. in Mott Haven and shot a 33-year-old customer in the chest, according to cops.
A worker at the register then stepped away, apparently after the gun was pointed at him, with video showing the gunman grabbing as much cash as he could before fleeing.
The shot customer was taken to Lincoln Hospital in stable condition.
Acosta has 13 prior arrests, including for robbery in 2010 when he was just 14, police say.
In May 2015 at age 19, he shot a man on an East Harlem subway platform after they argued on an uptown No. 2 train, cops said. The two men got off the train at the 110th St. station and Acosta shot the victim in the arm. Acosta was arrested for attempted murder, assault, weapon possession and reckless endangerment.
He pleaded to assault and weapon possession and was released on parole in April after serving 10 years in state prison.
Cops say Acosta’s last known address is in the Soundview area of the Bronx. He is described as 5-foot-11 and has “Bronx” tattooed on his hand and “Bobby” tattooed on his left forearm.
Anyone with information on Acosta’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.