NEW YORK – A Queens liquor store owner has been indicted on felony charges after a confrontation with an alleged shoplifter turned violent, resulting in the shoplifter being shot. The incident has sparked debate around self-defense rights and the legal ramifications of such defensive actions.
According to law enforcement officials, the surveillance footage from the store on Wyckoff Avenue shows a violent altercation that led to the store owner, Francisco Valerio, shooting one of the two men involved in the attempted theft. The suspects, identified as Edwin Poaquiza and Kevin Pullatasi, were recorded entering the store when the conflict arose.
The incident escalated when Valerio accused Pullatasi of attempting to steal and subsequently ejected both men from the premises. The confrontation continued outside, where Pullatasi aggressively attempted to re-enter the store, leading to Valerio striking him with his pistol. During this physical altercation, the firearm discharged, and Pullatasi sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen.
Valerio, who maintains that the discharge of the weapon was accidental, now faces legal scrutiny. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated that the store owner was a victim of a physical attack but criticizes his response as reckless, considering it occurred on a public street during the daylight hours.
Source: CBS New York
