Search continues for suspect in deadly Brooklyn deli stabbing
The search for the suspect in a deadly Brooklyn deli stabbing continued Saturday.
Police sources say the attack was unprovoked and that the victim was an employee just doing his job at the New York Deli and Mini Market in East New York.
Customer was asking for loose cigarettes, union spokesperson says
Fernando Mateo, the spokesman for the United Bodegas of America, says the suspect walked into the store at the corner of Hegeman and Van Siclen avenues Friday afternoon asking for loose cigarettes. Employee Diego Sandoval-Nava, 33, told him they didn't have any.
The suspect left, and when he returned, he allegedly scaled the counter and stabbed Sandoval-Nava several times in the stomach. The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
"This man was stabbed multiple times because he didn't want to sell loosies," Mateo said.
We're told Sandoval-Nava has been in this country for about six years, and has two children and family back in Mexico.
"He's here hustling to maintain, support his children and his family. Who's going to do that now?" Mateo said.
So far, no arrests have been made.
Panic buttons to be installed in bodegas across NYC
The store closed early Saturday as coworkers and community members dealt with the tragic loss.
"I even cried when I found out he died. I'm so sorry for his loss and his family," one colleague said. "The guy was very nice. He works the morning shifts, and he leaves sometimes in the afternoon. You know, things could get pretty hectic in there, but he always did what he was supposed to do."
"He was a very cool person. Very cool, respectful," customer Paris Ricks said.
"Unfortunately, I heard the bad news how the bodega clerk got into a dispute and got killed, and the thug is on the loose, so I wanted to show solidarity with the community because the bodega and bodega workers, they have the toughest job in the city," Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa said. "I must tell you, it is an oasis. It is a sanctuary. When you got a problem, you know you can run into a bodega. And in some instances, it's the only thing that's open at night in the whole community around here."
Mateo says starting next week, the United Bodegas of America will be installing hundreds of panic buttons at bodegas throughout the city.
"We're only doing 500 because that's what the mayor was able to get from the city budget," he said.
With 25,000 bodegas across the five boroughs, he's hoping the governor will approve additional funding from the state to allow for more.
"NYPD will tell us, these are the hot spots, and we will then go find the bodegas in that area," Mateo said.