NYPD announces arrest in fatal deli shooting, series of bodega robberies
NEW YORK -- A man was arrested Thursday in connection to a series of bodega robberies, including one on the Upper East Side that ended in a deadly shooting.
Police say 39-year-old Kimond Cyrus is behind bars.
"This individual was wanted in connection with multiple robberies committed over several days," NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said.
It was a three-borough robbery spree that started Feb. 25 and ended March 3.
Detectives say in one incident on the Upper East Side, Cyrus shot and killed a 67-year old deli worker affectionately known as Mr. Troy.
READ MORE: NYPD searching for man accused of fatally shooting beloved Upper East Side bodega worker
"We believe that he was primarily alone and he was supporting his family back home in whichever way he possibly could," said Fernando Mateo, with United Bodegas of America.
Members of the NYPD's Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Cyrus on Thursday morning. They say he was in possession of the moped seen in surveillance videos and a gun possibly used in the murder.
They also recovered the white hazmat suit they say he wore on the night Mr. Troy was killed. Police say new surveillance video showed the suspect throwing away that hazmat suit in a trash can in the Bronx.
"The investigation revealed that a male in black mask and attired in a hooded white Tyvek suit enters commercial establishments -- three times a deli and one time a bagel shop. He produces a black firearm, demands money, cellphones and Newport cigarettes," NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said.
"This was good, old-fashioned police work," Mayor Eric Adams said.
Watch: Officials announce arrest of suspect in killing of Upper East Side deli worker, series of bodega robberies
"We got a murderer off the streets. We took a terrorist off the streets. We took someone that was hiding his identity purposely so that he wouldn't get caught," Mateo said.
The NYPD says this case is a reminder public safety is a shared responsibility, adding it was a Crime Stoppers tip and surveillance video that led them to Cyrus.
"This tip was very instrumental in the apprehension of this violent person," Essig said.
Deli workers across the five boroughs are relieved.
"We are relieved because we know he is no longer a threat with a gun robbing, assaulting, killing our members," Mateo said.
In the meantime, the United Bodegas of America, which represents 15,000 bodegas across the city, is asking New Yorkers to drop the masks, for safety.
"If you're gonna enter a bodega, we must be able to identify who you are," Mateo said.
Across the city, bodega workers have been growing fearful.
"Even my customers are scared coming in here sometimes," a deli manager told CBS2.
"I think we need some security at our doors, especially a store that's open 24 hours," a worker said.
"It's a real thing, trying to work behind the counter and don't have a partition," another worker said.
Police say Cyrus is facing multiple charges including murder. We've learned he does have prior arrests including one for robbery.