Jose Alba, 61, is an American citizen who works at a Bodega store. He’s a native of the Dominican Republic and came to the United States around 30 years ago and became a citizen 14 years ago. He’s a father of three and has been working at the Hamilton Heights grocery store for nearly three years.
On Friday, July 1, 2022, an unfortunate event took place when a man named Austin Simon entered the store and pushed Alba behind the counter. The brawl erupted and Alba stabbed Simon multiple times which culminated in his death.
Although Alba stabbed Simon in self-defense, the local police registered the case of second-degree murder and arrested Alba upon arrival. He was also charged with the illegal acquisition of weapons in the store.
Mateo also said current New York laws involving the use of deadly force during self-defense need to change. The group suggested the city adopt a version of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law to protect people working behind the counter.
Just over a decade ago, when 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was fatally shot, Florida was one of the few states with “stand your ground” laws that eased the use of deadly force in the face of danger.
The death of Martin, an unarmed African-American gunned down by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in 2012, pulled the law into the mainstream overnight.