A heated confrontation outside a Manhattan deli late Saturday night turned tragic, resulting in one man’s death and another’s injury, according to police and insider reports.
The violent encounter unfolded around 11:38 p.m. at the crossroads of Avenue B and East 13th Street in Alphabet City. Two men, both aged 28, were struck by gunfire in their abdomens, authorities confirmed.
“I was making pizza when I heard a ‘pop,’ followed by another ‘pop’ after a short pause,” recounted an employee from the nearby Pop’s Pizza to the Post.
“One of the men walked up the street, clutching his stomach, and eventually sat on a bench right outside,” the pizza chef described, pointing to the spot in front of the pizzeria. “He sat there, holding his belly in pain.”
Police sources indicate that the gunfire stemmed from a verbal altercation inside a nearby deli that escalated onto the street.
Emmad El-Hassil, 31, who works at another deli just a block away, revealed that one of the shooting victims was his cousin, Abdul, who was employed at the deli.
“Guys that live in the neighborhood, they came into my store. And they said ‘Abdul got shot!’ Abdul got shot!’” El-Hassil said.
El-Hassil said that his cousin had just gotten back from a trip to Yemen, where he’d been visiting family.
“He just started working again today,” El-Hassil said.
The two victims of the shooting were rushed to Bellevue by EMS. One victim was pronounced dead, while the other is in stable condition, according to authorities.
It is unclear whether or not Abdul was the victim who died.
There are no arrests, and the investigation is still ongoing.
