NYC Bodega Owner Killed After Warning of Rising Violence

A deli worker who previously expressed concerned about public safety was shot and killed late Saturday night in Lower Manhattan.

The Details: 28-year-old Abdul Saleh was killed outside of the family-run Sal's Deli and Grocery after reportedly arguing with a man who refused to pay for his meal. Saleh was shot in the torso and rushed to Bellevue Hospital but succumbed to his injuries. The alleged gunman, 28-year-old Kavone Horton, was reportedly wounded by a ricocheting bullet, but the injury was non-fatal. Horton has been charged with murder, manslaughter, and weapons possession.

Problem Patron: The New York Post (Lean Right bias) referred to the gunman as a "problem patron," highlighting reports from Saleh's cousin, Basam Hussain, saying that "four police reports" had been filed against the shooter, and he was banned from the store for a year at one point. Some outlets on the right, like Fox News (Right) highlighted questions from United Bodegas of America over "whether the person who shot Saleh was someone who should not have been on the street," adding that "When you get away with something over and over again, you're going to commit a bigger crime every time."

Concerns Over Crime: Outlets on the right, like Fox News and the New York Post also framed coverage around a report last year from Saleh saying that he feared for his safety amidst the "spiking violence" in the city. Speaking to ABC 7 New York (Center) about the installation of panic buttons at bodegas and delis in the city, Saleh said "People get shot, killed," adding that "Sometimes you get robbed and the police never respond quick, come three or four hours late." The only outlet from the left covering the story was CBS News (Lean Left), and the coverage didn't mention either the past problems with the gunman or the concerns Saleh previously expressed over his safety.   

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