Man indicted for murder in fatal brawl behind Queens deli counter: DA

QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) — A man was indicted for allegedly stabbing a man to death during a wild brawl behind the counter of a Queens bodega last month, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Jahshua Kelley, 40, was arraigned on murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon charges for allegedly killing Nurul Bhuiyan, 40, on June 22, authorities said.

Kelley and the victim began brawling on the street before the argument spilled into Sammy’s Deli on 169-03 Jamaica Ave. at around 9:40 p.m., according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. Kelley threw a punch before Bhuiyan pulled a knife and ran into the bodega, police said.

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Once inside, the victim grabbed a serrated bread knife and a baseball bat from behind the counter. At the same time, the suspect threw a pineapple at him before grabbing a butcher knife as the horrified bodega workers looked on, officials said.

“The workers were trying to calm everything down, trying to get between them,” Kenny said at a previous press briefing.

Bhuiyan then charged at Kelley with the bat before the suspect put him in a headlock and allegedly stabbed him in the chest, cheek, and neck, Kenny said. The stab wounds pierced the victim’s lungs and heart, killing him.

Kelley then went to the sink in the back of the bodega and washed off the blood before cooly walking out, police said.

“The bodega workers are kind enough to give him some paper towels to dry off, and he just calmly walks out of the bodega,” Kenny said.

Kelley pled not guilty and is being held without bail, according to court records.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

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