New York City Police are looking for an individual suspected of shooting and killing a popular Upper East Side deli mart employee late on Friday night, March 3. Police said that the same suspect in the Daona Deli shooting may have also robbed a separate establishment later the same night.
A man wearing a white HAZMAT suit and a black mask was captured on surveillance footage inside the Bronx’s Yaya Deli and Grill at around 11:45 p.m., only 15 minutes after allegedly shooting and killing a deli worker on the Upper East Side (Third Avenue and East 81st Street) at the Daona Deli. Police report that in both cases the suspect was wearing the same attire.
The victim was shot in the head and declared dead at the scene. On Saturday morning, grieving locals and customers gathered outside the store, commenting that he had worked the late shift alone and that they had expressed their concerns about his safety.
Clients described the victim as a diligent, kind man who gave away free coffee and encouraging remarks. One individual said that he was a lovely, pleasant gentleman and that he was friendly to all his clients. Alan Mandel, a resident of the Upper East Side, stated that he knew the worker very well and that he was a hard-working and communicative man.
Outside the deli, there is a memorial for the 67-year-old victim, who has not been identified yet but apparently has family abroad. United Bodegas of America has offered a $5,000 prize for information that results in an arrest. They are requesting that this and other needless crimes be addressed.
Fernando Mateo, spokesperson for United Bodegas of America, stated that they couldn’t have police officers patrolling and keeping an eye out for all the little businesses that were being looted and that they could get robbed and killed in the same way. On Monday, United Bodegas of America intends to meet with NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey to go through additional safety measures for bodega employees. No arrests have been made so far.
