Bodega workers ask Manhattan DA to drop murder charges in deadly stabbing
NEW YORK -- A group of bodega owners met with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Tuesday morning.
They urged him to drop murder charges against a clerk following a deadly stabbing in Hamilton Heights.
Angry bodega owners chanted "Freedom for Jose Alba" in front of the DA's office as advocates met with prosecutors inside. An hour later, the president of the United Bodegas of America emerged with seemingly optimistic news, CBS2's Christina Fan reported.
"We are leaving today feeling very good and hoping that when he concludes his investigation, and he didn't give us a timeline, that he will exonerate Jose Alba," Fernando Mateo said.
But the DA's office seemed to have a different read about the meeting. A spokesperson emphasized a majority of the time was spent discussing public safety, not the case.
"Since taking office, DA Bragg has met with numerous business owners, community leaders, and other stakeholders about public safety. Today's conversation centered on how to keep bodega owners and workers safe, including in a post-Bruen world when more people may legally obtain and carry firearms. DA Bragg expressed support for New York's strong gun laws, and emphasized that more guns in our communities make us less safe. We welcomed the opportunity to discuss how we can work together to promote safety on our streets and in our workplaces, and look forward to continuing these conversations," said spokesperson Doug Cohen.
Alba's supporters, however, are adamant he is innocent.
"He was only protecting himself," bodega owner Barbara Trinidad said.
"Every single day in this kind of business you have been facing a similar situation. It's escalating," owner Jose Castillo said.
Alba, 61, was charged with second-degree murder after stabbing 37-year-old Austin Simon behind the counter of Blue Moon Convenience Store in Hamilton Heights.
Surveillance video shows Simon shoving and grabbing the clerk by the collar before Alba takes out a box cutter.
Prosecutors say Simon was unarmed, but in an exclusive interview with CBS2's Ali Bauman, Alba explained through a translator Simon's girlfriend had a knife and stabbed him.
"He was put in a position where he couldn't tell how it was gonna end. He was just defending his life," Alba's daughter said.
In addition to dropping Alba's charges, bodega owners Tuesday pressed for more protections and for the city to be tougher on crime.
"I don't think nobody wants to be in Jose's shoes now and before," one person said.
"You call the police, the police no come or they come two hours later," Trinidad added.
A spokesperson for the DA didn't elaborate on how long the investigation would take. The next court appearance for Alba is on July 20.