JOSE Alba, a typical New York City bodega worker, is being accused of murder.
The killing in question happened in July 2022 and now has New Yorkers questioning if it was murder or self-defense.
Jose Alba is accused of murdering Austin Simon[/caption]
Who is Jose Alba?
Jose Alba, 61, is a clerk at the Blue Moon Convenience Store on Broadway in New York City.
He is originally from the Dominican Republic and is a father of three, according to the New York Post.
Outside of his occupation, little information is available on Alba’s personal life as he tends to stay out of the spotlight.
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What happened to Austin Simon?
Austin Simon, 35, was stabbed to death by Alba after entering the bodega to buy snacks with his girlfriend.
Video footage later showed Simon storming behind the counter and starting a brawl with Alba after his girlfriend’s card declined, according to NBC New York.
Moments after the fight broke out, Alba grabbed a knife and stabbed Simon at least three times.
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Simon was then quickly transported to a hospital in Harlem but later succumbed to his injuries.
Alba claimed that the attack was in self-defense, but he was still charged with Simon’s murder.
At the time of the attack, Simon was on parole for assaulting a police officer, according to the New York Post.
Where is Jose Alba now?
Alba was released from prison after his bail was lowered from $250,000 to $50,000.
Jose Alba is a clerk at a New York City bodega[/caption]
He returned home on July 7, after spending almost a week at Rikers Island.
After posting bail, Alba was forced to surrender his passport and submit to electronic monitoring.
He was also ordered to remain in the five boroughs.
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“Those four aspects of the package, the bail amount, the surrender of the passport, the electronic monitoring, and the travel restrictions, are the conditions that we believe will ensure the defendant’s return to court while the People continue to investigate this incident,” the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said in a statement to Fox News.
Alba is scheduled to return to court on July 20.
