The suspect accused of attacking the 90-year-old owner of the East Village’s iconic Ray’s Candy Store earlier this week has been apprehended, police announced Saturday morning.
Luis Peroza, 39, of Avenue D allegedly assaulting the shop’s owner, Ray Alvarez, with a rock at 3 a.m. on Jan. 31 outside his famous establishment at 113 Avenue A, according to the New York Post.
Law enforcement sources said the suspect approached Alvarez with a strange package and asked him to buy it. The senior then asked what was inside before the brute threatened to kill him.
Authorities said Peroza allegedly swung a belt with a heavy rock attached to it — hitting Alvarez on the left side of his head and face that caused bleeding.
Officers from the 9th Precinct responded to the scene. Alvarez suffered swelling to his left eye, as local blog EV Grieve reported, but was not hospitalized for his injuries.
East Villagers have come to Ray’s Candy Store as a historic spot to indulge in sweets such as their iconic egg creams. Alvarez, who has owned the shop since 1974, has become something of a neighborhood legend; before the pandemic, in 2020, his friends and neighbors threw him a spectacular birthday party featuring burlesque dancers.
On Thursday, the NYPD released photos and video of the suspect who assaulted Alvarez, taken from in front of 158 Avenue C. The brute, later identified as Peroza, is shown wearing a black du-rag and a black coat while pushing a purple shopping cart full of items.
Peroza was booked Feb. 4 on an assault charge.
Deputy Inspector Ralph Clement, commanding officer of the 9th Precinct, said on Twitter that officers informed Alvarez of the arrest.
This story was update on Feb. 4 at 8:35 a.m.
Today we informed Ray that we identified and apprehended the perpetrator responsible for this heinous crime.
Special thanks to Warrants Section, 9th Detective Squad, and Intelligent Division. pic.twitter.com/QM9H2DKwaT
— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) February 4, 2023
