QUEENS, New York (WABC) -- Two employees of a Rockaway Park deli have been arrested and charged with assault after a verbal dispute turned physical on Sunday.[br /][br /]It happened early Sunday morning inside the Pickles & Pies Food Market & Deli, located at 202 Beach 116 Street.[br /][Ads /][br /]Police received a call about an assault in progress at around 5 a.m., and upon arrival they discovered an injured 31-year-old male who had been in a confrontation with two employees.[br /][br /]According to police, the victim, James Keena, was a customer who got involved in a verbal dispute with the two store employees.[br /][br /]The dispute soon turned physical, as investigators say the two employees assaulted Keena, resulting in him suffering a seizure.[br /][br /]He was taken to St. John's Episcopal Hospital at South Shore, where he was listed in critical condition.[br /][br /]The two employees, identified as 23-year-old Jorge Hernandez and 34-year-old Saber Abuhamra, were taken into police custody.[br /][br /]Both men were charged with two counts of assault and one count of harassment.[br /][Ads /][br /]Rodriguez was also charged with strangulation.[br /][br /]The news came as a shock to the community, with some believing that police arrested the wrong men.[br /][br /]"I think they should not be charged at all," said Jerry Sewaid, a resident in the neighborhood. "They defended the store. And plus they protected the store at the same time."[br /][br /]Prosecutors say Keena was punched and pushed, causing him to hit his head on a counter and then fall to the floor before being placed in a chokehold by Hernandez.[br /][br /]Abuhamra then allegedly punched and kicked the customer on his head and stomach as he was being held by his neck.[br /][br /]According to the criminal complaint, the victim was placed on life support because he could not breathe on his own.[br /][Ads /][br /]Bail was set for the defendants at $30,000 cash or $60,000 bond.[br /][br /]Police are working to determine what the dispute was all about.[br /][br /]The investigation is ongoing.[br /][br /][newsletter ID="midday-update" /][br /]----------[br /]* [b][url HREF="https://abc7ny.com/queens/" TARGET="_blank" REL=""]More Queens news[/url][/b][br /]* [b][url HREF="https://7ny.tv/submitnewstip" TARGET="_blank" REL=""]Send us a news tip[/url][/b][br /]* [b][url HREF="https://abc7ny.com/apps/" TARGET="_blank" REL=""]Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts[/url][/b] [br /]*[b][url HREF="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrlIS7z20CnVaCrMvdkig_g" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"] Follow us on YouTube[/url][/b] [br /] [h2]Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News[/h2] Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, [url HREF="https://abc7ny.com/image-video-solicitation-and-rights-terms-of-use/5101040/" TARGET="_blank" REL=""]terms of use apply.[/url] [contest ID="1476ddf6-b69c-9afe-2613-3a0466586e07" /]