New York City residents band together to protect liquor store owners accused of serious crimes He shot and killed a man who had been caught on video stealing from his store.
Surveillance camera footage showed two men, later identified as Edwin Poakiza and Kevin Plataci, entering a liquor store on Wyckoff Avenue owned by Francisco Valerio.
Some of the security videos Published According to WABC-TV.
“Usually we ask them to leave, but this time was different.”
The video shows the two men being surrounded by Valerio and other customers. The store owner accuses Poakiza of stealing off-camera, while Plataci appears to be hiding a liquor bottle in his jacket. One of the customers tells him to put the bottle back, and the two are chased out of the store.
Outside, the video shows Pratassi returning and challenging Valerio to a fight, but the owner pulls out a gun, punches Pratassi, and the gun goes off.
A 20-year-old man was shot once in the abdomen.
Valerio told detectives the shooting was accidental, but his defense argues he acted in self-defense.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz indicted both men, but imposed far more severe charges on the store owner than those imposed on the shoplifter.
“Three individuals were charged with two crimes. The store owner was physically assaulted by one of the men and unfortunately, as alleged, that led to the store owner recklessly firing a gun in broad daylight on a public road,” Katz said.
Valerio was charged with second- and third-degree assault, first-degree wanton endangerment and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. press release A representative from Katz’s office said:
Pratasi is expected to be charged only with assault and petty theft.
“Do the right thing with him. He’s one of the good ones.”
The store owner’s lawyers argue he was acting in self-defense.
“It’s all told through the eyes of the people involved. Only Frank knows the situation he was facing.” Johnny Nunez said. A family friend said: “It’s one crime, one thing. They were stealing. Frank didn’t commit any crime.”
His wife, who has been married for 30 years, says she faces losing her store if her husband is convicted.
“The last few days have been really hard. I don’t know what to say. You always do the right thing by other people, by your coworkers, by everyone, and then something small like this happens and you have your freedom taken away,” Jael Valerio said.
“If he has to go to prison, I don’t know what will happen to the kids,” she added.
The owner’s family said he has a concealed carry permit.
Valerio’s brother, Miguel Valerio, said the two suspects were acquainted with the family.
“The situation was bad. We’ve always dealt with these people and we’ve always asked them to leave, but this time it was different,” he explained.
Fernando Mateo of the United Bodegas of America held a press conference to defend Francisco Valerio and call on the local prosecutor to drop the charges against him.
“Francis, [the suspect] “It could have been a gun he had in his hand, it could have been a knife,” Mateo said.
They noted that Valerio, 53, has no criminal record.
“New York is our witness. We’re not asking the district attorney to be unfair,” Mateo added.
“Do the right thing with him. He’s a good man,” his wife said.
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