There is growing outrage over Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s choosing to charge a 62-year-old bodega worker with murder after he killed a criminal guy in self-defense after the guy attacked him in his store.
Jose Alba arrived at Rikers Island this morning for his first court appearance on murder charges. His bail has been set at $250,000.
Alba knifed Austin Simon to death in the Bluemoon Convenient Store in Harlem on Friday evening after Simon attacked him. (Video Below)
Alba, who is well-liked in the neighborhood, has been employed there for decades and has no criminal record.
The altercation began in the store on Friday evening when Simon’s unnamed girlfriend attempted to purchase a bag of chips for her daughter.
Her EBT card was declined as she attempted to make the purchase, and Alba demanded that she return the chips.
According to police, the woman then pulled her own knife from her tote. There was a tussle, and she ended up running out of the store to seek Simon’s assistance.
Simon was on parole for assault on a police officer at the time of the attack on Friday evening.
Simon’s girlfriend, who reportedly stabbed him in the arm with a knife, was not charged.
