A surveillance video captured the moment when the owner of a liquor store in the Queens district threatened a thief with a gun, which accidentally went off, injuring the thief. The store owner is now facing charges and a possible maximum sentence of 7 years.
According to the surveillance footage from inside the store, last Tuesday evening (May 20th), two teenage thieves attempted to sneak bottles of liquor into their clothing at the liquor store owned by Ridgewood resident Francisco Valerio. However, they were caught by Valerio and his brother. The two thieves were then pushed out of the store.
Outside the store, the surveillance footage shows that after being pushed out of the store, the two thieves argued with the people inside at the entrance. One of the thieves, wearing black clothes, who had initially walked away, returned to the store entrance and physically attacked the people inside. He was once again pushed out by the store occupants. At this point, two individuals from the store came out, with one of them, later identified as the store owner Valerio, waving his hand at the thief in black, who then fell to the ground. It was at this moment that a gun was visible in the hands of someone from inside the store.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s office, there were two crimes involved in this incident, with a total of 3 people facing charges: 20-year-old suspects Kevin Pullatasi and Edwin Poaquiza were charged with theft, while store owner Valerio faces charges of assault, reckless endangerment, and illegal weapon possession. Valerio had a concealed carry permit for the gun kept in his waistband.
Pullatasi is currently in critical condition in the hospital receiving treatment for the gunshot wound.
“After the store became the target of these thieves, the stolen items were recovered, and the two men were pushed out of the store. At that time, the store owner was physically attacked by one of the men. Unfortunately, as alleged, this led to the store owner recklessly firing a gun in broad daylight on a public street,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in a statement.
According to Fox News, Fernando Mateo, the founder and spokesperson of the United Bodegas of America, strongly criticized the Queens District Attorney’s decision to prosecute Valerio. He stated that these two thieves had targeted this store at least four times before.
“We must stop habitual thieves who frequently commit theft. We have the right to defend ourselves, our business, and our community,” Mateo said. “Local prosecutors must stop prosecuting victims and focus on charging the criminals.”
He also harshly criticized New York City’s pro-criminal policies, including cashless bail reform.
“Valerio has a gun license, has been married for 30 years, has two children, and is a graduate of Columbia University. He is a liquor store owner and a member of the 83rd Precinct community. If charged, he will lose everything he has worked for,” Mateo said. “District Attorney Katz holds his future in her hands and she must drop the charges.”