A man who violently attacked a deli worker in Brooklyn has been linked to previous issues with his father.
The incident occurred at the New York Deli & Minimarket Corporation, situated at the intersection of Hegeman and Vansiklen Avenue in East New York, shortly after 3 PM on Friday, according to police reports.
The deli employee, Diego Sandoval Nava, was quickly taken to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries, alongside three others, including a man named Narwoon.
As of now, the suspect known as the “Hinced Knifeman” has eluded capture following the events.
Ivor Dowridge, who was at the store using the ATM, witnessed parts of the attack and reported seeing multiple workers attempting to subdue the assailant.
What triggered the altercation remains unclear.
“He seemed like he was in a rage, clearly after someone,” observed Dowridge, age 63. “The victim looked terrified. I could see it in his eyes.”
The attacker momentarily exited the store but then returned with a knife shortly thereafter.
“When I left, I saw him come back. He had something in his pocket,” Dowridge recounted.
Dowridge also noted that the attacker’s mother was outside, shouting at him upon his return.
Details about the cause of the confrontation are still murky, but Dowridge described the aggressive man as appearing extremely furious as he sought out Nava.
Being familiar with the neighborhood, Dowridge, who is currently off work and has children, mentioned he knows the deli workers, illustrating the tight-knit community dynamic.
“He just needed to step back, but nothing like this should happen,” he expressed. “You stab someone, and it feels like everything changes.”
A nearby worker, 45, shared that Nava was known for preparing breakfast at the deli.
“Once you were a regular, he recognized your order without needing to ask,” the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, reflected.
“He was humble, didn’t chat much, just did his job. Such a kind person. It’s truly tragic. I brought a candle to honor him outside the store.”
Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Swa, who was present in the deli during the incident, referred to the job as “the most dangerous in the city.”
“The narrative we’ve been given by Mayor Adams and Commander Jessica Tish suggests it’s merely a perception of crime,” he commented. “But if you’re behind the counter at a bodega, you know differently. This is an everyday reality.”
