A botched robbery at a Queens liquor store Monday night ended with the store owner shooting one of the alleged thieves in the stomach, police said. The owner and the two suspected robbers were all arrested and are now facing charges.
According to police, two 20-year-old men came into Franja Wines and Liquors on Wyckoff Avenue in Ridgewood at around 7:45 p.m. and tried to steal several items. They were asked to leave but later returned, assaulting 53-year-old store owner Francisco Valerio.
Valerio pulled out a gun, police said, and attempted to strike one of the younger men with it — but the gun went off, hitting the man in the stomach. He was transported to Elmhurst hospital in stable condition, while his alleged accomplice fled and was arrested a few blocks away.
NYPD officials identified the two 20-year-olds as Edwin Poaquiza and Kevin Pullutasi, both of Brooklyn. They were both charged with multiple counts of robbery, assault and menacing. Pullutasi was the one wounded in the shooting, police said.
Valerio was also arrested and charged with reckless endangerment. Police officials said he is a licensed gun owner.
According to police data, crimes like robbery, burglary and grand larceny have ticked up slightly in the 104th precinct since this time last year. The precinct includes Ridgewood, Glendale, Middle Village and Maspeth.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
