Police searching for suspects in fatal shooting of Queens deli worker

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Search for suspects in killing of deli worker
Kristin Thorne has the latest on the killing of a Queens deli worker.

JAMAICA, Queens (WABC) -- A Queens community is mourning and demanding answers after a beloved deli worker was shot to death right where he worked,

Police are looking for two men believed to have been robbing the deli when they fatally shot the worker.

Mamadou Diallo was the kind of guy customers considered a friend. They are so sadden by his senseless loss that they came by on Saturday to say goodbye.

For almost a decade, Deborah Spivey would start her morning with a smile from Mamadou Diallo - a gentle and soft spoken man.

"It's terrible...he don't deserve that," said Spivey.

CeFaan Kim has the details from Jamaica.

The 46-year-old worked at the 24-hour Sunshine Deli on Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica.

Investigators are looking for two men seen on surveillance video who were seen wearing hoodies as they snuck inside the deli and shot Diallo in the head around 6:30 Saturday morning.

His tragic death left customers startled.

"Whoever did this to him, obviously they didn't know the person he was," said Genowade Lewis.

"He was a very nice, quiet guy. When you go in the store, he never disrespected you. He was just a cool, smooth-hearted person. I don't understand why this happened to him," adds Spivey.

Diallo died on the scene and was killed instantly after being shot in the head.

The suspects are believed to be between 5'7" to 5'9.