Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
A Brooklyn deli clerk accused of fatally shooting a man who brandished a knife in his store was released without bail Wednesday after he was charged with illegally possessing the handgun he claims was used in self-defense.
Valentine Ruiz shot Edwin Candelario, 25, dead after Candelario whipped out a knife in the East New York deli late Monday night, cops who viewed surveillance video said.
Candelario’s father, Edwin Sr., who had accompanied his son to the store and was outside when the shooting happened, had told the Daily News on Tuesday that his son was unarmed when he was gunned down.
“Not even two seconds after my son walked into the store I heard ‘Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop!’ ” Edwin Sr. recounted.
Edwin Candelario pictured in his undated photo. (Obtained by New York Daily News)
Candelario had asked his father to walk him to the store because he had left his keys there earlier in the evening. But police sources told The News that Candelario’s intentions were not so benign. Surveillance video showed him going behind the deli counter with a knife before Ruiz shot him, the sources said.
A cop responding to the bloody scene found Candelario on the deli floor with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso and Ruiz standing nearby with a revolver on the counter, according to the criminal complaint.
The officer asked Ruiz if he shot Candelario.
“Yes. He tried to stab me,” Ruiz, 34, told the cop, according to the complaint.
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A perplexed judge at Ruiz’s arraignment Wednesday in Brooklyn Criminal Court asked prosecutors for an explanation when they said wouldn’t be asking for bail in the case.
“Can I jump in here? The complaint talks about a murder?” said Judge Jean Walsh.
“But the charge before the court is a nonqualifying offense,” said Assistant District Attorney Wilfredo Cotto, referring to charges not applicable for bail requests.
“There’s no basis for me to ask for bail, so we have to consent to release,” Cotto said.
Ruiz was released from custody after his arraignment. He covered his face with his T-shirt when a Daily News reporter asked about the shooting and declined to comment as he and family members left court.
He’s due back in court Sept. 25.