Police: Man Seen On Video Shooting Bodega Worker In Face During Armed Robbery
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD is searching for a man who allegedly held up a Brooklyn bodega with a BB gun last month.
The terrifying incident was caught on cameras and now police are asking for the public's help finding the suspect, CBSN New York's Kiran Dhillon reported Tuesday.
The clip shows the moment the bodega clerk was shot in the face by a male suspect.
The incident happened on Jan. 10 at around 9:30 p.m. In the moments leading up to the frightening robbery, the suspect is seen entering the store near Church Avenue and Rockaway Parkway in Brownsville. It appears he says something to the 28-year-old clerk before shooting him above his right eyebrow.
The incident was disturbing for those who live and work in the area. Dr. Solly Elmann said he has worked at the Brooklyn Eye Center next door for the past three years. He spoke highly of the people who work at the bodega.
"Very friendly. Nice little cat that sits there. Very nice people. They always say hello," Dr. Elmann said.
Area resident Kiaira Guadalupe agreed.
"I think it's really upsetting because I know two people that work in the store and they're really nice. They always say 'How you doing?' and stuff, so I'm shocked the person got shot in the face and robbed," Guadalupe said.
Police said the gunman ran eastbound on Church Avenue after the clerk handed over a plastic bag filled with cash. Elmann and Guadalupe said more needs to be done to keep the neighborhood safe.
"I don't come outside in the nighttime ... because something could happen to me," Guadalupe said.
"We need a little bit more police presence, maybe more patrolling, maybe some police cars around the corner. There's a hospital on this block. It should be a very safe block," Elmann said.
Police said the clerk was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released.
Anyone with information about the armed robbery is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website, by tweeting @NYPDTips or by texting 274637.
