NEW YORK – The masked man in overalls who allegedly shot a beloved Manhattan bodega employee in the head during an attempted robbery Friday night also robbed another bodega in another borough in less than half an hour later, and police said Monday they believe it may be linked to at least two other robberies in Brooklyn in the past two weeks.
New York police did not identify the victim of Friday’s “horrifying murder”, 67, but described him as part of the community. A witness who was in the store around 11:30 p.m. that night and escaped the terrifying moment told police the shooter entered wearing a full ensemble, the kind of white outfit you’d see a painter wear at the work, and a black mask to hide the face.
The witness said the shooter pointed the gun at the witness, then ordered the person to lie down and emptied his pockets. The suspect then turned his attention to the employee and began hitting him with the butt of the gun. While this attack was unfolding, police said the witness fled the deli.
Once outside, the witness reported hearing a gunshot, according to the NYPD. The clerk was found dead behind the counter with a single bullet to the head. The shooter was seen fleeing the scene on a dark scooter.
Senior NYPD officials say it is the same outfit and vehicle the same man allegedly used in three other robberies, two before the deadly Manhattan robbery and then the one in the Bronx shortly after the murder of the ‘Upper East Side.
The two crimes that set the pattern happened in Brooklyn. In the first case, on Saturday, Feb. 25, cops say they believe the same gunman entered the Sunset Bagel store in Avenue Foster, took out a sum of money and cell phones and fled the store on a dark scooter. He wore the black mask again and the painter’s outfit.
A few days later, on March 1, he reportedly entered the Super Deli in Manhattan Avenue, this time in the late morning, and pretends to make a purchase. He then showed the gun, advertised a robbery, and stole cigarettes and cash before driving off on the scooter. The Bronx grocery store heist Friday night after the Manhattan shooting was similar to this.
None of the other robberies involved fatal violence, and the NYPD says it understands how the shooting and the serial robber on the loose are rocking the community.
“‘We stand in solidarity with the thousands of hardworking New Yorkers who make a living in our neighborhood bodegas,'” NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Edward Caban said from the scene of what he said. called a “horrendous murder”.
“We are all outraged by this act of violence. Each of us here grew up in this city. We know what the neighborhood bodega means. For some of us, it was like an extension of our living rooms. The employee behind the counter was like family. I’m not surprised people left cards, candles and flowers here,” Caban said.
“During the height of COVID, these frontline workers delivered for all of us, young and old. We have not forgotten and are disgusted that this innocent man was kidnapped in such a cowardly act.” “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and all who mourn this senseless loss.”
A reward of up to $10,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-57-PISTA.