Vigil held for slain East Village bodega worker

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Friday, May 1, 2026 3:40AM
Vigil held for slain East Village bodega worker

MANHATTAN (WABC) -- A large crowd gathered for a candlelight vigil in the East Village to honor the life of a beloved bodega worker who was killed over the weekend.

28-year-old Abdul Saleh was shot to death on Saturday night.

Police said he got into a confrontation with a man known for harassing workers and customers outside of his family's deli.

At the vigil speakers remembered the father of two, while also demanding more protections for bodega workers and an end to gun violence.

"When you may have been a dollar short, he allowed you to purchase something. He held your children. He knew your names," NY Attorney General Letitia James said.

These palces are the backbone of every neighborhood across our city, but there are vulerable workers," NYC Councilmember Harvey Epstein said.

"I don't even feel safe anymore, this is the community that I was raised in and I can't even go across the street," community advocate Ciara Lugo said.

Police have charged 28-year-old Kavone Horton with Saleh's killing.

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