Family and neighbors of an imam and his associate who were gunned down near a New York City mosque are still grappling for answers.

Neighbors gathered where the two men lived, just blocks from where they were killed in a Queens neighborhood as police continued searching Sunday for the suspect.

Authorities said the shooter approached Imam Maulama Akonjee and Thara Uddin from behind as they left the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque Saturday afternoon.

Mashuk Uddin says his brother came to the U.S. from Bangladesh five years ago. He said he was devoted to his family and his religion.

Neighbor Monir Chowdhury worshipped with the men. He says he has felt an anti-Muslim sentiment growing in the neighborhood and believes the attack was a hate crime.

Police have not released a possible motive.