Detectives have charged a Hamilton Heights bodega worker who allegedly stabbed a 35-year-old male patron to death during a dispute at the business on Friday night, authorities said.
According to police, the homicide happened at about 11:07 p.m. on July 1 inside the grocery store at 3422 Broadway.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the bodega worker, Jose Alba, 51, of West 141st Street, got into a verbal dispute with the victim — Austin Simon, 37, of Morningside Avenue, who was known to frequent the establishment and give the staff a hard time.
But Friday’s dispute proved fatal, cops said, when Alba allegedly stabbed Simon twice in the chest, and once in the neck.
Moments later, officers from the 30th Precinct found the mortally wounded Simon while responding to a 911 call about an assault in progress.
EMS rushed him to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Meanwhile, Alba was taken into custody at the scene. He was charged Saturday with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
Updated on July 2 at 3 p.m.
