A bodega worker in New York City who stabbed a career criminal to death in self-defense will not return to work because his coworkers are concerned about his safety after he was released on bail.
Jose Alba, 62, was released from Rikers Island on Thursday evening after his bail was reduced from $250,000 to $50,000. He was escorted by one of his sons and returned to his Hamilton Heights home while wearing an electronic monitor. He was only required to pay $5,000.
His coworkers at the bodega have now stated that they will not allow him to return to work because they are afraid the victim’s friends may come to hurt him.
‘We’re not letting him come back,’ a Blue Moon Convenience store worker named Wilson told the New York Post.
Wilson said his victim’s ‘friends and family’ now know where Alba works and his coworkers fear it’s a ‘death sentence’ if he returns to his post.
Alba was arrested on Friday when the 35-year-old stormed into the Harlem bodega where he works and beat him after Alba refused to create a tab for his girlfriend, who couldn’t pay for a bag of chips. He was charged with murder in the second degree.
Wilson expressed concern that if he was compelled to defend himself, he may face a similar position to Alba.
‘Why is [Alba] getting charged? He was working. Now that makes workers even more scared. This could happen to me. We out here working. We feel scared. We have to protect ourselves,’ he told the New York Post.
‘He wasn’t looking for trouble, he was working. What is he supposed to do? That guy could have done anything…[Alba] is an old man. It’s not fair.’
Wilson also expressed fear over the growing gun problem in New York City, saying he didn’t know ‘who has a gun’ in the neighborhood. He also said that all the workers are trying to do is ‘make money and serve the community,’ not deal with violence.
‘They should consider self-defense,’ another employee Escoo told the Post. ‘We are risking our lives serving the community.’
Alba was arrested and imprisoned on a $250,000 bail when prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office demanded twice that amount, despite the fact that other career criminals were released.
Following widespread criticism at the judgement, a Manhattan court today reduced Alba’s bond and freed him to go to his house.
Earlier that day, NYC Mayor Eric Adams paid a visit to the bodega to show his support for Alba.
‘I’m a person that’s there for people following the law. I saw from the video, I saw a voter here inside the store following the law…It’s time for New Yorkers and Americans to start standing up for people who follow the law,’ he said.
The bodega incident occurred when Simon’s girlfriend’s credit card was denied while attempting to purchase a bag of chips. Alba refused to give her the chips since her debit card was denied.
She then pulled a knife from her handbag and assaulted him, according to Alba’s relatives, before phoning for help from her boyfriend.
Surveillance video shows Simon storming into the business wearing a $350 Amiri shirt, towering over Alba, and arguing with him.
Alba stabbed him in the neck and chest with the store’s box cutting knife. He died later in the hospital.
Initially, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office requested a $500,000 bail, which the judge rejected last week. A $250,000 bond was eventually agreed upon, which the family could not pay.
They set up a GoFundMe campaign to assist fund bail and pay for his legal team, but the account was deleted after it raised $20,000.
A GoFundMe spokesperson told DailyMail.com: ‘Our terms of service prohibit fundraising for the legal defense of a violent crime.
‘At this time, the fundraiser has been removed and all donors have been refunded.’
Bragg’s office announced on Thursday that it had struck an agreement with the man’s family on the terms of his bail, which include his surrendering his passport and wearing an electronic ankle monitor.
The owner of the convenience store where the event occurred has also consented to be an obligor for him, according to the DA’s office.
Alba, a Dominican Republic native who acquired a US citizen 14 years ago, was imprisoned at Rikers Island.
Republican Gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin was among many who criticized Bragg for charging him on Thursday.
‘My first Day 1 action as Governor next January will be to fire Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg,’ he said.
Yesterday, a store worker who did not want to be named told DailyMail.com: ”The girlfriend is still out there enjoying her life.’
Regular customers at the shop characterised Alba as a hardworking father who was preparing for retirement and looking forward to visiting his family in the Dominican Republic next week.
He worked at the business from midday to 6 a.m. every day of the week, they told DailyMail.com, to ‘make an honest living.’
During his more than two years at the store, though, some customers have tried to take advantage of him, taking products and attempting to flee with them.
They said that one individual once held a pistol to his head.
So, when Simon entered the business last week and began threatening him, he had no idea if he had a gun and could murder him.
‘He never wanted no problem,’ said Ahmad’s son, who was working the counter on Wednesday.
‘I picture him as my grandfather being in that situation.’