NYC Deli Worker Dies Months After He Was Assaulted By Customer Over $1 Candy

KEY POINTS

The man had suffered head and facial injuries in the attack
The customer was angry because he had to wait too long to get the candy
No arrests have been made so far

A deli worker in New York City, who was attacked by a customer following an altercation over a dollar's worth of candy, died earlier this week, police said Wednesday.

The man, identified as Jose Carrero, 50, was beaten by a customer and his friend at a deli in Bronx in February. Carrero suffered head and facial injuries in the attack. He died Sunday, four months after the incident, said police. The owner of the store, Bonelly Cruz Sr., also sustained injuries.

"Over 10-cent Jolly Ranchers someone lost their life and someone has to follow up with doctors because he almost lost his life and vision," said Francheska Kuilan, Cruz Sr.'s stepson.

On Feb. 24, two men walked into the store to buy Jolly Ranchers. They argued with the deli's owner for taking too long with the purchase. One of them pretended to have a gun, Kuilan told NY Daily News. She said her uncle, brother and stepfather threw the pair out of the store, which triggered an altercation. The customer initially left the store but came back with more people. One of them assaulted Cruz with a brick and he collapsed to the floor.

"At this time my uncle tried to shield my dad and scare them off with a broom," said Kuilan. "Instead they had other plans for him and assaulted him multiple times. While my uncle was on the floor unconscious they repeatedly beat him, punching, kicking, stomping on him."

Cruz sustained an orbital fracture and he is still receiving treatment. No arrests have been made in connection to the assault, reported WPIX.

"The whole situation is frustrating and outrageous," Kuilan told NY Daily News. "Why would these kids ... think it's OK to beat someone so senseless? No heart, no care in the world."

Surveillance footage of the attack showed the angry customers arguing with the workers and punching a person as the owner and others tried to push them out of the store.

"Whenever he saw us he would always would thanks for blessing him with our children. He loved our family. He fought. He really wanted to be here," Kuilan told the outlet. "But God had other plans…. the doctor said he was brain dead. We made the decision to take him off life support as a family. We didn’t want him to suffer."