Authorities arrested a man caught on camera walloping a SUNY student and star football player in the face at a Queens deli, then following him outside and shooting him in the stomach, leaving him badly hurt, police said Wednesday.
The NYPD identified the suspect in the attack at a deli on Springfield Boulevard as Jeffrey Thurston. He is now in custody, NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison tweeted Wednesday.
Video shows Thurston start to argue with the victim as he tries to walk by him inside the deli, according to police. It's not clear what was said, but Thurston is allegedly the man seen on camera punching the victim in the face.
The suspect runs outside, chased by the victim. They tumble out the front door and brawl on the sidewalk for a moment before Thurston allegedly pulls out a gun and shoots him. According to police, the victim is a student at SUNY Buffalo and is a star athlete on the football team.
