What to Know
- Police have arrested the armed robber and an accomplice in a series of drugstore robberies in Queens; a manager was shot in one of them
- Late Monday, police put out a new, clear video of the suspect they want to find in connection with the shooting
- The shooter is accused of robbing three other stores in the borough the same morning of the shooting
Police have arrested the man they say shot a Duane Reade store manager during an armed robbery, along with his uncle, who allegedly acted as his getaway driver.
NYPD Chief Dermot Shea tweeted, "Got him," alongside a photo of the suspect about midday. "The subject wanted for shooting a sales clerk while committing a series of armed commercial robberies in #Queens has been APPREHENDED," he said.
The suspect has been identified as Elgin Brack. He appeared in federal court Tuesday to answer to robbery and weapons charges, along with his uncle Scott Brack. Both are being held without bail.
The two are facing federal charges because often when a string of robberies involves a shooting, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives gets involved, an official said. Scott Brack has prior convictions of attempted murder, robbery and assault, records show.
The victim, a 49-year-old overnight manager, was shot inside the Duane Reade near Roosevelt and Woodside avenues in Queens about 3:30 a.m., according to the NYPD.
The man was taken to an area hospital; police said early Tuesday he remains in critical condition.
In the next hour, the suspect went on to rob 7-Eleven in Woodside, and then went on to hold up a Rite-Aid in Astoria and a Rite-Aid in St. Albans, police said.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea on Tuesday said a second person had also been taken into custody in connection with the robberies.
"I really can't speak more glowingly about the work of our detectives in this case," he said Tuesday. "In such a short order to bring to this a conclusion and to get these two violent individuals off the streets."
Woodside residents were relieved to hear of the arrests.
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"Hopefully nothing like this happens again," said one man who lives in the neighborhood.
A law enforcement source told NBC 4 New York the person arrested was the uncle of the alleged shooter, and acted as his driver.
"It's a shame," said Joseph Tramontana, who runs a small business on Roosevelt Avenue across the street from Duane Reade. "You go to work in the morning. The poor guy came to work, with a family, and look what happened."
Four months ago, someone killed a man outside the same store, which remains closed until further notice.
"We frequent these stores every day," said Woodside resident Pat Marsh. "To this in this area is horrifying."
A Duane Reade spokesman said in a statement to News 4, "Our thoughts and prayers are with our team member who was critically injured earlier this morning. We are currently evaluating security measures at this location and will make enhancements to them as necessary when the store reopens."
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
