Fox News’ “The Five” co-host Kayleigh McEnany blasted New York City authorities over the bizarre arrest of a small bodega owner whose crime was defending himself against a career criminal who attacked him.
“Manhattan bodega worker charged with murder. Woman who didn’t have enough money for her item, went to the car to get her boyfriend, who then came behind the counter to attack the clerk. Jose Alba, 51, cut the man up, and is being charged with murder. Held on $250,000 bail,” said a Twitter post describing the incident along with video showing what happened.
CAUTION: GRAPHIC
Manhattan bodega worker charged with murder. Woman who didn't have enough money for her item, went to the car to get her boyfriend, who then came behind the counter to attack the clerk.. Jose Alba, 51, cut the man up, and is being charged with murder. Held on $250,000 bail.
— YouDontHaveToWatch ()
According to reports, Alba was in his bodega when a woman came in and tried to buy a bag of chips with her EBT card, which is a public benefit program compromised of Food Assistance (formerly Food Stamp) – Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and Family Assistance (FA) – Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or any other emergency or special cash benefits.
Some of the programs restrict what holders can purchase, though it’s not clear why her card was denied. When it was, she went and told her boyfriend, who has an extensive criminal record. And, as the video shows, when it appeared he was about to attack Alba after shoving him to the ground, the bodega owner defended himself with a knife.
“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,” conservative writer Ian Miles Cheong noted.
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.
— Ian Miles Cheong
McEnany railed at New York City for jailing Alba over an act of self-defense.
“I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone. What kind of sick, twisted place are we sitting in here in the middle of New York City, where this man who is defending himself is put in jail?” McEnany, who is a lawyer, .
“Simon (the deceased attacker) came back reportedly about 10 minutes later with a mission to confront this individual, as you point out, shoved him against a wall,” she continued.
Judge lowers bail on NYC bodega worker Jose Alba charged with murder in self-defense case
— New York Post
“As you point out, grabbed him on the back of the neck. And all he did was defend himself. Alba has no criminal history. He’s just a good, hardworking person who immigrated to this country and has been a law-abiding citizen,” the former Trump White House press secretary added.
“His daughter said, ‘It was either him or the guy at the moment. He’s never hurt anybody. He’s never had an altercation where he had to defend himself. This is the first time for him.’ So you have to make a choice between your life or going to Rikers Island, which we all know is a pretty brutal place,” she said.
“Thank goodness we live in a country that’s trial by jury. I hope these charges are dropped,” McEnany added.
WATCH:
KNOW MORE:
Tucker Carlson Castigates ‘Malicious Leaders’ For Blaming Crime Spike on Pandemic