'John Doe Duffel Bag' Salvatore Perrone indicted on 3 murders

So-called "John Doe Duffel Bag" Salvatore Perrone was indicted yesterday on murder charges in the shooting deaths of three shopkeepers of Middle Eastern descent, prosecutors said.

Perrone, 64, was arrested a week ago on suspicion of murder after a witness tied him to some of the crime scenes.

A Brooklyn grand jury indicted him on two counts of murder for each of the three victims, who were shot on July 6, Aug. 2 and Nov. 16 in Brooklyn. He faces a life in prison if convicted.

A defense lawyer for Perrone could not be reached for comment.

All three victims were slain in stores they owned, and all were killed by the same gun, prosecutors said.

After arresting Perrone, police said a .22-caliber rifle was recovered in a duffel bag belonging to him at his girlfriend's apartment, and that shell casings retrieved from the three crime scenes came from the same rifle.

Perrone's fingerprint was found on the weapon, and he made statements implicating himself, police said.

The killings began on July 6 when Mohamed Gebeli, 65, was shot in his clothing store, Valentino Fashion. On Aug. 2, Isaac Kadare, 59, was killed in his Amazing 99 Cent Deals store.

On Nov. 16, Rahmatollah Vahidipour, 78, was gunned downed in the She She Boutique. Investigators said they were yet to determine a motive for the attacks, but police noted the victims were older men of Middle Eastern descent.