New York.- The New York Police Department (NYPD) is actively searching for a man accused of shooting a 25-year-old worker during an attempted robbery at a convenience store in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, while organizations representing bodega owners have offered a reward to locate the suspect.
The incident occurred around 1:22 a.m. on Thursday at the Wholesome Organic Convenience establishment, located on Rivington Street, near Clinton Street. According to authorities, the alleged assailant entered the business before engaging in a confrontation with the employee.
According to the account provided by the victim to local media, the individual initially attempted to obtain products from the store without having any money and subsequently pulled out a firearm. The suspect went behind the counter and a struggle ensued with the worker, at which point the weapon was discharged.
The projectile struck the employee in the gluteal area. Emergency services transported him to Bellevue Hospital, where he was treated and remained in stable condition. The attacker escaped the establishment and, as of this Friday, authorities had not announced any arrests related to the case.
Following the incident, representatives of United Bodegas of America (UBA) arrived at the establishment and announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the person responsible. The organization once again called for increased security measures for workers and owners of these types of businesses.
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The establishment where the attack occurred is part of a pilot program that allowed for the installation of emergency buttons in about 500 bodegas in New York. The project, funded by the city with approximately 1.2 million dollars, allows employees to request assistance using devices equipped with geolocation technology.
Sector representatives maintain, however, that the number of businesses protected with these systems remains small compared to the thousands of convenience stores operating in the city.
The case occurs at a time when general statistics show a reduction in gun violence in New York. As of July 31, 2026, the city had recorded 462 people shot and 149 homicides, figures that authorities have presented as part of a historic decrease in violent crime.
The Police continue to gather information to identify the gunman and determine his whereabouts. Authorities urged anyone with information related to the incident to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers program confidentially.
