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Man Arrested in Avocado, Banana Attack on NYC Deli Clerk

The clerk suffered a gash, fractures to his face and a broken jaw in the Memorial Day attack

What to Know

  • Two men hurled avocados and bananas at deli employees in the Bronx, police say
  • The two men became angry because a deli worker who didn't speak English couldn't understand them
  • A deli clerk suffered a broken jaw and fractures to his face after being hit with the weaponized fruit

A 28-year-old man has been arrested in the avocado- and banana-hurling attack at a New York City deli that left a clerk with a broken jaw on Memorial Day. 

Police say Brad Gomez was charged Thursday with assault. Gomez and another man who remains on the loose allegedly pummeled a Stadium Gourmet Deli clerk with avocados and bananas May 29 when the clerk tried to kick them out of the East 161st Street store for causing a scene over their food order.

Police said the suspects were trying to order food, but a deli worker who didn't speak English couldn't understand them. They became angry and the 21-year-old clerk tried to kick the two of them out.

Amr Alzabidi, the man who was hit with the avocados and suffered a broken jaw, told News 4 New York that his recovery will be a long one. 

“People thought of it as funny that it’s an avocado assault,” Alzabidi said. “[But] the weight and the speed of the avocado broke my face.”

Alzabidi said he had to have plastic surgery on his face after he suffered a gash, facial fractures and a broken jaw.

“It was major, major surgery that I had because of the avocado. So it wasn’t funny at all,” he said. 

Alzabidi is afraid to return to the deli and said he doesn't plan to work there again. 

Surveillance video released by police earlier this week showed one of the suspects casually grabbing several avocados before getting into a pitching position and throwing them at Alzabidi and other employees.

The other suspect joins in and starts hurling avocados and bananas at Alzabidi.

Surveillance video shows Alzabidi grabbing his head after one of the avocados hits him. Another employee tries to dodge the flying fruit. 

The two men also smashed watermelons and tossed merchandise before leaving the store.

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