Brooklyn Bodega Worker Speaks Out After Deadly Fight: “We Were Just Defending Ourselves”
In a shocking incident at a Brooklyn bodega, a worker claims he and his colleague fought back against a local troublemaker who started the brawl. The clash at Royal Deli & Grill in Bushwick ended tragically, with 59-year-old Gerry Hill dying from his injuries. Now, Kelvin Melo, one of the deli workers involved, is sharing his side of the story, insisting they acted in self-defense.
Melo told the Daily News that everything unfolded on Monday night when Hill burst into the store, yelling and ready for trouble. “He came in swinging and punched me right in the face,” Melo recalled. The two ended up on the floor in a fierce struggle. “I grabbed him, and he fell on top of me. We were just fighting to get him off.”
As the scuffle intensified, another employee, Mukel Shaibi, stepped in to help. Police sources say Shaibi hit Hill on the head with a baton. Melo, who was pinned underneath during the chaos, didn’t see the blow. “After it was over, Shaibi showed me the stick—it was broken. We use it to break ice in the store,” Melo said.
When Melo finally stood up, he was covered in blood. “I thought it was mine at first,” he explained. “I rushed to the bathroom to clean up and realized it was his.” Hill managed to leave the bodega and head home, but soon after, someone called for help. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, where he sadly passed away.
This wasn’t the first run-in with Hill, according to Melo. The 59-year-old Bushwick resident had a reputation as a “neighborhood nuisance” and had threatened Melo before. On that fateful night, as Hill stormed in screaming so loudly that customers couldn’t place orders, Melo tried to de-escalate. “I went around the counter and told him to leave,” Melo said. But Hill escalated things, shouting, “I want to fight you. I’m going to f–ing kill you. Any one of you come outside and fight.”
Police swarmed the scene at Royal Deli & Grill, where they found a shattered window and signs of the intense fight. NYPD officers questioned both Melo and Shaibi, but so far, no charges have been filed against the bodega workers. The investigation into the Brooklyn bodega death continues, with self-defense claims at the center of it all.
This heartbreaking story highlights the dangers faced by bodega workers in New York City, where quick confrontations can turn deadly. As the community awaits more details, many are wondering if this was truly a case of standing ground against a threat. Stay tuned for updates on this Brooklyn deli incident.
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