Bangladeshi restaurant worker killed in New York City shooting, another injured

A 44-year-old Bangladeshi restaurant employee was killed and another was injured in a shooting at a restaurant in Brooklyn early on Sunday, police said, as investigators worked to determine what led to the gunfire.

Yusuf Raju was shot in the head inside American Best Wings & Pizza at 842 Rockaway Avenue in the Brownsville neighbourhood and died after being taken to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, says NBC New York.

Raju had moved to the US from Bangladesh about three years ago and had petitioned for political asylum, according to information provided by members of the local Bangladeshi expatriate community. His wife and three children remain in Bangladesh.

Another employee, Rasel, 39, was shot in the leg and is expected to recover. Both men were originally from Noakhali in southeastern Bangladesh.

Accounts differed over what happened immediately before the shooting.

Shahidullah Kawsar, a leader in the local Noakhali expatriate community, said a customer tried to leave without paying his bill, leading to an argument when Raju and Rasel attempted to stop him. The dispute escalated after the customer pulled out a gun and fired, Kawsar said.

Restaurant owner Shekh Rasel gave a different account, saying the shooting appeared to be unprovoked. He said the employees did not know the man and that "there is no argument actually between them as far as I know".

The New York Police Department is investigating the shooting. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from the restaurant as they work to identify the shooter and establish a motive.

No arrests had been made as of Sunday evening.