The Manhattan district attorney filed a motion to dismiss murder charges against 61-year-old Jose Alba Tuesday after they determined they could not prove Alba was not justified in using deadly force. Alba acted in self-defense when he killed 34 year Simon Austin, who attacked him behind the counter of the Blue Moon bodega.
Mayor Eric Adams was among several of Albas notable supporters. “I am hoping that we take all of that into consideration as this hard-working New Yorker was doing his job and someone aggressively went behind the counter to attack him,” Adams stated. “I support hard-working, innocent people that are doing their job.”
61-year-old bodega worker Jose Alba was attacked by an enraged career criminal, Austin Simon, who went behind the counter and choked him over a bag of chips. Alba defended himself, and Simon died. DA Alvin Bragg has charged him with murder. pic.twitter.com/FIfL1O1q7X
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) July 7, 2022