Crime in the City full episode: May 24, 2024

FOX 5 New York
24 May 202410:30

Summary

TLDRThis week's crime report in New York City includes a random attack and possible hate crime in Brooklyn, a robbery in Queens resulting in charges against both the shop owner and alleged shoplifters, and an uptick in random assaults on pedestrians. The NYPD is also investigating a shooting involving two teens and revisiting the home of suspected serial killer Rex Hman. Community members and the United Bodegas of America are advocating for the store owner in Queens, while residents are alarmed by the increase in violent incidents.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ“น A robbery in Queens at a Richwood liquor store was caught on camera, resulting in a man being shot and all three involved facing charges.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฎโ€โ™‚๏ธ The store owner, Francisco Valerio, is charged with assault for accidentally firing his gun during a scuffle with alleged shoplifters.
  • ๐Ÿช The United Bodegas of America and community members are supporting the store owner, arguing that he was acting in self-defense.
  • ๐Ÿšจ NYPD statistics show a 4% increase in city-wide felony assaults compared to the previous year, with incidents happening in broad daylight.
  • ๐Ÿ‘Š A woman was randomly punched in the face on the Upper East Side, marking another in a series of seemingly unprovoked attacks.
  • ๐Ÿค• Two 17-year-old boys were shot in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, with one hit in the chest and the other in the leg, both in stable condition.
  • ๐Ÿ  An attack outside a home in Bushwick, Brooklyn, is being investigated as a hate crime, with the victim being struck in the head with a metal pipe.
  • ๐ŸŽญ Actor Steve Bushi was assaulted in Kips Bay, Midtown, with the suspect, Clifton Williams, held on a $50,000 cash bail and charged with felony assault.
  • ๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™‚๏ธ Investigators are conducting a new search at the home of suspected serial killer Rex Herman, with no details provided on the reason for the search.
  • ๐Ÿก Neighbors of Rex Herman are frustrated with the ongoing police and media presence, which they find disruptive and unsettling.
  • ๐Ÿ” The search at Herman's house is being conducted by the Gilgo Beach task force, which has been involved in previous searches related to unsolved murders.

Q & A

  • What incident occurred at a Richwood liquor store in Queens?

    -A robbery attempt at a Richwood liquor store in Ridgewood, Queens was caught on camera, showing an altercation between the store owner and two alleged shoplifters, resulting in one man being shot and all three individuals facing charges.

  • What charges are the two shoplifters and the store owner facing?

    -The two alleged shoplifters are charged with petty larceny, while the store owner, Francisco Valerio, is charged with assault for accidentally firing his gun during a physical altercation with the suspects.

  • How has the community reacted to the charges against the store owner?

    -The community, including the United Bodegas of America, is supporting the store owner and is upset about the charges against him, believing that he was acting in self-defense and protecting his business.

  • What is the potential consequence for the store owner if convicted?

    -If convicted, Francisco Valerio, the store owner, faces up to seven years in prison.

  • What recent random attack occurred on a woman on the Upper East Side?

    -A woman was randomly punched in the face on Lexington Avenue on the Upper East Side in broad daylight, which is part of a disturbing trend of random attacks in the city.

  • How have random attacks in the city been reported to have increased?

    -NYPD statistics show that city-wide felony assaults are up by 4% compared to the previous year, which equates to about 3 assaults every hour.

  • What incident involved two 17-year-old boys in Crown Heights, Brooklyn?

    -Two 17-year-old boys were shot in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; one was shot in the chest and the other in the leg. The circumstances leading up to the shooting are unclear, and both teens are in stable condition at a local hospital.

  • What hate crime incident is being investigated in Brooklyn?

    -The NYPD's hate crimes unit is investigating an attack outside a Bushwick home where two suspects reportedly hit a non-gender conforming person with a pipe after making anti-sexual orientation statements.

  • What is the situation with the suspect in the unprovoked attack on actor Steve Busch?

    -The suspect, Clifton Williams, is being held on a $50,000 cash bail and is charged with two counts of felony assault for punching actor Steve Busch in the face in Kips Bay, Midtown.

  • Why are investigators searching the home of Rex Hman, the suspected serial killer?

    -The reason for the search is not clear from the script, but investigators have been at Rex Hman's home since the morning with evidence bags, suggesting they are looking for specific evidence.

  • What is the public's reaction to the repeated searches at Rex Hman's home?

    -Neighbors and the public are frustrated and surprised by the repeated searches, expressing a desire for the investigation to conclude and for the area to return to normal.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿš” Liquor Store Altercation Leads to Charges

In Ridgewood, Queens, a liquor store owner faces charges after a confrontation with alleged shoplifters was caught on camera. The incident involved Francisco Valerio, the store owner, who after spotting two 20-year-olds attempting to steal, engaged in a physical altercation that resulted in Valerio accidentally discharging his gun, injuring one of the suspects. Despite having a legal concealed carry permit and the fact that the same group had attempted to rob the store multiple times, Valerio was charged with assault. The United Bodegas of America and local community members are supporting Valerio, arguing that he was acting in self-defense and should not face prosecution. The two alleged shoplifters were charged with petty larceny.

05:01

๐Ÿ˜จ Rise in Random Assaults and Gun Violence in the City

New York City has seen an unsettling increase in random assaults and gun violence. City-wide felony assaults have risen by 4% compared to the previous year, averaging about 3 incidents per hour. Residents, especially women, are feeling threatened and have started taking precautions such as not wearing headphones and being more vigilant of their surroundings. A recent incident involved a woman being randomly punched in the face on the Upper East Side, contributing to the growing fear among the public. Additionally, two 17-year-old boys were victims of gun violence in Crown Heights, shot in their chest and leg respectively but are in stable condition at a local hospital. The NYPD's hate crimes unit is also investigating an assault outside a Bushwick home where a non-gender conforming individual was attacked with a metal pipe due to their sexual orientation. The police are seeking information on these incidents and urging the public to help identify the perpetrators.

10:02

๐Ÿ” Ongoing Investigation into Suspected Serial Killer's Home

Authorities have once again descended on the home of Rex Herman, a suspected serial killer, to conduct a search. The reason for the search and what investigators are looking for remains unclear. This comes 10 months after a previous search for clues or 'trophies' to link Herman to the murders of four women found near Gilgo Beach. Herman, who is currently being held without bail, is due back in court next month. His attorney has not commented on the ongoing search, and no arrests have been made in connection with the other victims found near the beach. The police and media presence has been described as disruptive by neighbors who are eager for closure on the case.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กUpper East Side

The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City. It is known for its affluent residents and high-end retail stores. In the video's context, it is mentioned as the location where a woman was randomly punched in the face, highlighting a trend of random attacks in the city.

๐Ÿ’กHate Crime

A hate crime is a criminal act motivated by prejudice or bias against a particular group of people. In the script, a hate crime is discussed in relation to an incident in Brooklyn where a non-gender conforming person was attacked with a pipe by suspects who made anti-sexual orientation statements, showcasing the theme of violence and discrimination.

๐Ÿ’กSerial Killer

A serial killer is an individual who commits a series of murders over a period of time with a cooling-off period between each murder. The script refers to a suspected serial killer, Rex hman, whose home is being searched by investigators, indicating an ongoing criminal investigation and the severity of the crimes being discussed.

๐Ÿ’กRobbery

Robbery is a crime that involves taking property from another person by force or threat of force. The video script describes an incident in Queens where a liquor store owner was involved in a robbery attempt by two alleged shoplifters, which escalated into a shooting, demonstrating the theme of crime and its consequences.

๐Ÿ’กShoplifting

Shoplifting is the act of stealing goods from a retail store. In the script, two 20-year-olds are caught shoplifting in a liquor store, leading to a physical altercation and subsequent charges, illustrating the video's focus on crime incidents.

๐Ÿ’กAssault

Assault is the act of intentionally causing harm to another person. The video mentions several instances of assault, including the random punching of a woman on the Upper East Side and the attack on actor Steve Bushi, highlighting the issue of violence in public spaces.

๐Ÿ’กGun Violence

Gun violence refers to the use of firearms causing physical injury or death. The script reports an incident in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where two 17-year-old boys were shot, emphasizing the ongoing issue of gun-related crimes in the city.

๐Ÿ’กSelf-Defense

Self-defense is the act of protecting oneself or others from harm. In the context of the liquor store owner's actions, the script discusses whether his use of a firearm was an act of self-defense against the alleged shoplifters, raising questions about legal rights and boundaries.

๐Ÿ’กBodega Association

A bodega association typically refers to a group or organization that represents the interests of small store owners, often focusing on issues like safety and legal matters. The script mentions the United Bodegas of America speaking out against charges for the store owner, showing community support and advocacy.

๐Ÿ’กDistrict Attorney

A district attorney (DA) is a public official who serves as the chief prosecutor for a local government. The script refers to DA Melinda Katz, who has charged the two alleged shoplifters and the store owner involved in the incident, indicating the legal process following the crime.

๐Ÿ’กInvestigation

An investigation is a systematic process of gathering information and evidence to establish facts or prove a case. The script details ongoing investigations, such as the search of the suspected serial killer's home and the random attacks, emphasizing the active pursuit of justice and resolution.

Highlights

Random attacks on the Upper East Side and a possible hate crime in Brooklyn have heightened concerns over public safety.

A robbery in Queens at a Richwood liquor store was caught on camera, resulting in charges against the store owner and the alleged shoplifters.

The United Bodegas of America and community members are supporting the store owner, arguing it was self-defense.

The store owner, a father of two, faces up to seven years in prison if convicted, causing community concern.

An increase in random attacks on pedestrians in Manhattan, particularly women, has raised fears among residents.

NYPD statistics show a 4% increase in city-wide felony assaults compared to the previous year.

Women are taking precautions such as not wearing headphones and being more vigilant while walking.

Two 17-year-old boys were victims of gun violence in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, shot and hospitalized.

A hate crime investigation is underway in Brooklyn after a non-gender conforming person was attacked with a pipe.

The NYPD's hate crimes unit is looking for suspects who made anti-sexual orientation statements during the attack.

Actor Steve Bushi was assaulted in an unprovoked attack in Kips Bay, with the suspect now held on a $50,000 cash bail.

Investigators are searching the home of suspected serial killer Rex hman, though the reason for the search is unclear.

Neighbors express frustration and a sense of dรฉjร  vu as investigators return to hman's home for the second time.

No arrests have been made in connection with the search, and Rex hman's attorney has not commented on the new developments.

The search involves the Gilgo Beach task force, which has been active for 10 months since hman's arrest.

The community is hoping for a resolution to end the ongoing police and media presence in the area.

Transcripts

00:00

this week a random attack on the Upper

00:03

East Side it was the subway pushings it

00:05

was the beatings now it's a punching in

00:07

the face plus a possible hate crime in

00:09

Brooklyn and the search continues at the

00:11

home of a suspected serial killer oh my

00:14

God this is all over again it feels like

00:15

yesterday this happened right now Fox

00:18

5's crime in the city here are the

00:20

crimes from across the five burrows We

00:23

Begin this week in Queens where a

00:25

robbery gone wrong is caught on camera

00:27

at a Richwood liquor store

00:30

shocking surveillance video out of

00:31

Ridgewood Queens showing an altercation

00:33

between a liquor store owner and two

00:35

accused shoplifters it all ended with a

00:37

man shot and all three involved facing

00:39

charges Fox fives Lind Schmidt live in

00:41

Ridgewood where the group The United

00:43

bodegas of America just spoke out

00:44

against the charges for the store owner

00:47

Linda yeah and they are really fired up

00:49

about this tonight so are members of

00:51

this community a lot of them coming out

00:53

in support of this store owner now the

00:55

store owner of the store here behind me

00:57

is a married father of two uh he has

00:59

owned the store for for about 13 years

01:01

well now he is charged for pulling out

01:03

his gun and accidentally firing during a

01:06

fight with two alleged

01:10

shoplifters it's for it's this few days

01:13

been very very

01:15

hard you would think somebody that is

01:20

always doing the right thing by others

01:23

by his peers by everybody gel Valerio

01:27

overcome with emotion calling her

01:29

husband Francisco one of the good guys

01:32

now he could wind up with a record and

01:35

in jail if if he has to go to jail I

01:38

don't know what the kids are going to do

01:41

on Sunday two alleged shoplifters one of

01:43

them seen here wearing a red jacket in

01:45

this surveillance video were stuffing

01:47

liquor bottles in their coats Francisco

01:50

Valerio the owner of FR out Wine and

01:53

Liquors in Ridgewood Queens and one of

01:55

his employees caught the two

01:56

20-year-olds stealing and threw them out

01:59

of the store things got physical one of

02:01

the suspects kicking and punching the

02:03

owner the Queen's district attorney says

02:06

that is when the owner pulled his gun

02:08

from his waistband and tried to pistol

02:10

whip the suspect and accidentally fired

02:13

the gun hitting the suspect in the

02:15

stomach over and over the same crew came

02:18

in here four times to rob the store and

02:22

get away with it this time they did not

02:26

Valerio who was a father of two has a

02:28

legal concealed car permit for his 9mm

02:32

semi-automatic pistol da Melinda Catz

02:35

has charged the two alleged shoplifters

02:37

with Petty Larsen but the store owner is

02:40

charged with assault quote the store

02:42

owner was physically attacked by one of

02:44

the men unfortunately as alleged that

02:47

led to a reckless shooting by the store

02:49

owner on a public Street in broad

02:51

daylight all three of the defendants in

02:53

this incident will have to answer

02:55

charges against them the bodega

02:58

Association is demanding the da drop the

03:02

charges if you got shot and you're a

03:04

criminal you are a criminal you are not

03:08

a

03:09

victim we cannot as a community

03:13

allow for Francisco to get prosecuted

03:17

people in this community are also

03:19

weighing in supporting the store owner

03:23

the owner I believe has the right to

03:26

protect you know his business he had a

03:29

permanent Carri it

03:30

and they were assaulting him and it was

03:33

an accident he shouldn't be in trouble

03:35

it's self-defense like somebody's

03:37

violating his business I think that

03:39

that's okay for him to use

03:42

that and also tonight the alleged

03:44

shoplifter he is in the hospital

03:46

recovering but again so many people here

03:48

calling the owner of this uh liquor

03:50

store just a good family man in fact his

03:52

daughter recently graduated from

03:55

Columbia University if he is convicted

03:58

he faces up to seven years in

04:02

prison moving to Manhattan another woman

04:06

targeted in a disturbing trend of random

04:09

attacks well now to the uptick in what

04:11

seems to be random attacks on people

04:13

just walking in the city it's happened

04:15

again this time to a woman on the Upper

04:16

East Side and as Lisa ever shows us

04:19

women we she spoke to say that they've

04:21

also felt

04:22

threatened going to happen anywhere I

04:24

think just people are angry at the world

04:26

right now and they take it out on

04:29

whoever walks by them it's happened

04:31

again another woman has been randomly

04:33

punched in the face for no apparent

04:35

reason this time on Lexington Avenue on

04:37

the Upper East Side police say on

04:39

Tuesday May 7th the man you see here

04:42

allegedly punched the victim in the face

04:44

as she was walking on the sidewalk in

04:46

broad daylight just before 1: p.m. it

04:49

was the subway pushings it was the

04:50

beatings now it's a punching in the face

04:53

and I am very frightened myself to be

04:54

honest with you this incident comes

04:56

after a string of random attacks

04:58

including one of actor Bushi the most

05:01

recent NYPD statistics show that

05:03

city-wide felony assaults are up by 4%

05:06

so far this year compared to 2023 that

05:09

breaks down to about 3 every hour but

05:11

those numbers are based only on what's

05:14

reported it's terrifying you hope that

05:17

you can walk around your street and go

05:19

to work and live your life safely this

05:21

longtime resident is now weary even

05:23

while walking her dog after getting

05:25

aggressively shoved by a man in the same

05:27

neighborhood last month I was walking

05:29

with my daughter and my dog and just

05:31

slammed into me my bag went flying I

05:34

think that this neighborhood has really

05:36

taken a hit and I've lived here for 40

05:40

years and I can't wait to get out of

05:42

here to be quite honest it's not safe

05:44

some of the women we spoke with are

05:46

taking their own precautions I don't

05:48

wear headphones on my head anymore I

05:49

used to walk briskly I walk a little

05:51

slower I look behind me I look in the

05:53

mirrors in the windows adding to the

05:55

fears the fact that like the May 7th

05:57

attack the assaults are happening during

05:59

the day and like this incident by men

06:01

who appear to be regular New Yorkers

06:03

such an uptick I think of just people

06:06

looking for uh to to scare women to be

06:10

honest if you recognize the man you've

06:12

just seen in the images we've shown you

06:14

police are asking you to call 1800 577

06:17

tips and you don't have to give your

06:20

name now to Brooklyn two teens in Crown

06:24

Heights become the latest victims of gun

06:26

violence in the city two 17-year-old

06:29

boys were shot in the crown hide section

06:31

of Brooklyn tonight happened just before

06:32

7:00 off Bergen Street police say one

06:35

teen was shot in the chest and the other

06:36

was shot in the leg it's unclear what

06:38

led up to the shooting both teens were

06:40

taken to a local hospital in stable

06:42

condition the investigation is still

06:45

ongoing staying in Brooklyn an attack

06:48

outside of Bushwick home becomes the

06:50

focus of a hate crime

06:51

investigation well the nypd's hate

06:54

crimes unit is investigating after two

06:56

suspects reportedly hit a non-gender

06:58

conforming person with the pipe in

07:00

Brooklyn last week police say on May

07:02

13th around 5:00 p.m. the victim was

07:04

sitting on the front steps of their home

07:05

near boram Street in Bushwick Avenue

07:08

when two male suspects approached them

07:10

made anti-sexual orientation statements

07:13

and struck the victim in the head with a

07:14

metal pipe before running off the victim

07:16

had bruising to the head but refused

07:18

medical attention if you have any

07:19

information you're being asked to call

07:20

crimes

07:23

Stoppers back in Manhattan the man who

07:26

assaulted a renowned actor in Kips Bay

07:28

heads to court

07:31

the suspect in the unprovoked attack on

07:33

actor Steve Bushi is being held on a

07:35

$50,000 cash bail 50-year-old Clifton

07:39

Williams is charged with two counts of

07:40

felony assault police say he punched the

07:42

66-year-old actor in the face earlier

07:44

this month happened in Kips Bay Midtown

07:47

bashim is was treated for bruising

07:50

bleeding and swelling to his left eye

07:52

his publicist says he is doing okay

07:54

Williams is expected back in court this

07:58

Thursday and Fin fin L leaving the city

08:01

investigators once again descend on the

08:03

home of suspected serial killer Rex hman

08:06

the investigators have been at the home

08:08

of Rex hman since this morning it's

08:10

still not clear what prompted this new

08:13

search of his home and what they're

08:14

hoping to find all right let's get

08:15

straight out to Fox wife jod Goldberg

08:17

who joins us live from the scenea mipo

08:18

park Jody what can you tell us tonight

08:20

stepen Natasha I could tell you

08:21

officials descended on the home around

08:23

8:00 this morning and it's been a very

08:25

active scene ever since you could see

08:27

behind me the street is closed in a

08:29

command post has been set up as for

08:31

neighbors they say it's deja vu it was

08:33

back in July when officials started

08:35

searching the house after Rex hman was

08:37

first arrested no word on how they'll

08:40

how long they'll be here for and no word

08:42

on what they're looking

08:44

for the medical examiner parked outside

08:47

of Rex Herman's home on Monday morning

08:49

as investigators throughout the day went

08:51

in and out of the suspected Gilgo Beach

08:53

serial Killer's house with large

08:55

evidence bags law enforcement isn't

08:58

commenting on why they're back or what

09:00

they're searching for I'd love to know

09:02

oh my God this is all over again it

09:03

feels like yesterday this happened I

09:05

think this is a surprise to everybody

09:06

it's been 10 months since police

09:08

carefully comb through huan's house for

09:10

clues or so-called trophies to tie the

09:12

architect to the murders of Four Women

09:14

whose remains were found near Gilgo

09:16

Beach so far no one has been linked to

09:18

the murders of the other victims found

09:20

nearby but here in mipa park neighbors

09:23

say they're frustrated the police and

09:25

media presence is back it's very

09:27

disruptive we just want to know why

09:29

experts say this multi-agency search

09:31

involving the Gilgo Beach task force is

09:33

likely for something specific Herman's

09:36

estranged wife ASA erup and their son

09:38

are in South Carolina their daughter is

09:41

staying elsewhere according to lup's

09:43

attorney Bob macedonio who says he

09:45

hasn't received the application for the

09:47

search warrant or the warrant itself the

09:49

search comes 3 weeks after the same task

09:52

force worked the woods out in manille

09:54

and then the cell fork in suff County I

09:57

just hope they have something to end

09:58

this thing and put put it to rest and uh

10:00

we don't want this in our area just

10:02

constantly over and over again coming to

10:03

search this guy's house either find

10:05

something or don't now Kerman who's

10:07

being held without bail is due back in

10:09

court next month we reached out to his

10:10

attorney and have not heard back as for

10:13

lup's attorney he wants us to know that

10:15

no arrests have been made and he doesn't

10:18

anticipate any

10:20

either and that's this week's crime in

10:22

the city subscribe for more at

10:25

youtube.com/ fox5ny