Trump meets bodega worker cleared of murder for stabbing ex-con to death in self-defense: Crowd chants ‘four more years’ as he arrives in Harlem
- Trump visited Jose Alba, a bodega worker who killed an ex-con in self-defense
- The former president made the stop after the second day of his criminal trial
- Trump received a rude reception upon his arrival at the bodega on Tuesday
Donald Trump left his criminal trial Tuesday and visited a bodega worker who was acquitted of murder for stabbing an ex-con to death in self-defense in his Manhattan store.
The former president went to Hamilton Heights to speak with Jose Alba, who stabbed Austin Simon to death in July 2022 when he jumped over the counter of his store.
Trump received a raucous welcome as he arrived at the bodega, with the crowd chanting “four more years” as the former president joined in.
The charges against Alba were dropped in July by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has become a frequent target of Trump’s attacks during his campaign.
Alba stabbed Austin Simon to death with a knife in July 2022 when he jumped over the counter in his store
Trump received a raucous reception Tuesday when he arrived at the bodega, as a crowd chanted “four more years” at the former president
Alba (right) fled to upstate New York and planned to move back to his home in the Dominican Republic as he feared for his life after being charged
Alba was attacked by Simon’s girlfriend during a vicious argument over a bag of chips, when she tried to pay $3 but her card was declined.
While Alba and Simon were arguing, the friend who started the argument took a knife from her bag and cut Alba in the arm.
The girlfriend was never charged, but Alba was charged with murder in a case that sparked anger in the city.
Alba fled to upstate New York and planned to move back to his home in the Dominican Republic as he feared for his life after being charged, and resigned after receiving an outpouring of hate over the stabbing.
But now he’s back in town.
On July 19, the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg asked a judge to drop charges against Alba after he faced strong backlash, including criticism from the city’s mayor.
Trump’s actions came as Bragg was a frequent target of his attacks.
Trump made a stop at the bodega at the end of the second day of his criminal trial
The girlfriend was never charged, but Alba (above, walking into a police station) was charged with murder in a case that sparked outrage across the city
Surveillance footage clearly showed that Simon had gotten behind the counter of the Hamilton Heights convenience store and pushed the store clerk against a stack of shelves before grabbing him.
Only then did Alba reach into a shelf and pull out a knife to fight back.
During the altercation, Alba was apparently stabbed by Simon’s girlfriend, who caused the row when her benefits card was refused. The girlfriend was never charged in the incident.
The motion to dismiss said prosecutors “have determined that we cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was unjustified in his use of deadly physical force.”
The filing stated that “a murder case against Alba could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt at trial” and that the case will not be presented to a grand jury.
Video footage shows bodega worker Jose Alba trying to avoid confrontation with Austin Simon in the minutes leading up to the July 1 stabbing
Jose Alba shows off the injuries he suffered during the vicious attack at his bodega
Alba (shown poor) shows photographers his injuries with friend Francisco Marte
Other videos obtained by DailyMail.com show Simon – who was on parole for assaulting a police officer when he died – marching behind the bodega counter to confront Alba.
“Dad, I don’t want a problem, Dad,” Alba told him calmly.
Simon stormed into the Blue Moon supermarket minutes after his girlfriend tried to buy a bag of crisps for her daughter but her electronic benefits card was declined.