The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward to help capture the cold-blooded killer who gunned down two innocent victims during a robbery spree in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
The manhunt for Jesus Acosta, 31, continued Wednesday for the two fatal shootings that occurred within 48 hours, cops said.
The FBI reward is in addition to the $10,000 offered by the United Bodegas of America for his capture.
Acosta is accused of shooting Tayvon Shuler, 33, an innocent bystander who was shot in the chest while shopping at the 149 Grill & Deli on E. 149th St. near Walton Ave. in Mott Haven around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, cops said
“He’s a good kid. He gave his shirt off his back,” the victim’s father, Douglas Shuler, told CBS News.
Shuler was in the deli when the gunman burst through the doors, cops said. Surveillance video shows a cashier step away from the register before the suspect rushes into view and grabs as much cash as he can before fleeing.
“He’s going to be missed. That’s all I can say, man. I’m just stuck for words right now,” the victim’s father said.
Shuler was rushed to Lincoln Hospital, where he died.
Just over 48 hours earlier, Acosta shot two workers, one fatally, while attempting to rob American Best Wings & Pizza on Rockaway Ave. in Brownsville on Sunday, police said.
Medics rushed both victims to Brookdale University Hospital. MD Yousuf, 44, who was struck in the head, could not be saved.
Another worker there, age 39, was shot in the leg and is recovering, police said.
Yousuf immigrated from Bangladesh and sent his wages back to support his large family, including two young daughters, aged 3 and 12, the restaurant’s co-owner told the Daily News Tuesday.
“This is very sad,” the co-owner said. “He came from a very poor family … Honestly, I don’t know how they will survive afterwards since their only provider is no more.”
Acosta shot the victims while trying to rob the eatery, police said.
His parole officer recognized him from a surveillance video, which was circulated amongst law enforcement and in local news stories, and alerted authorities, cops said. Acosta is due to complete parole in 2030.
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 is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.