A Dominican immigrant and father of seven girls died Wednesday after a gunman shot him twice in the face during a robbery at his South Ozone Park bodega Monday night, police said.
Three men entered the Kennedy Mini Mart at 133-45 131st St. in South Ozone Park at around 9:30 p.m. Monday and one of them shot store owner Bolivar Cruz, 56, in the face, police said.
Three men entered the Kennedy Mini Mart at 133-45 131st St. in South Ozone Park at around 9:30 p.m. Monday and one of them shot store owner Bolivar Cruz, 56, in the face, police said.
Cruz was taken to Jamaica Hospital following the shooting and was listed in critical condition, authorities said.
A family friend who wanted to be identified as Buddha said Cruz was a hardworking man who sacrificed for his large family.
A police source said Cruz' family took him off life support Wednesday morning.
Police could only identify the suspects as two Hispanic men and one black man. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said they fled in a red car, possibly with Florida plates.
Authorities said they believe the incident is part of a robbery pattern consisting of 15 incidents in the 103rd, 105th, 106th and 113th precincts from March 17 to May 10.
Cruz lived in a small home adjacent to the bodega. His family could not be reached for comment.
Buddha said the bodega, which has been in business for more than 30 years, had been robbed twice before and shots were fired during the incidents, but Cruz had never thought about closing the store. He said Cruz eventually planned to hand the business down to his children, all of whom are in their 20s.
Some of the bodega's regular customers said Cruz was known to allow patrons to take food from the store even if they could not afford to pay.
