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 deli clerk's jaw was broken after two men pummeled him with avocados and bananas during an argument over food in the Bronx, police said.
Chaos erupted at Stadium Gourmet Deli on East 161st Street after the 21-year-old clerk tried to kick out the two men 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.
Surveillance video shows one of the suspects casually grabbing several avocados before getting into a pitching position and throwing them at the clerk and other employees.
The other suspect joins in and starts hurling avocados and bananas at the employee.
Surveillance video shows the clerk grabbing his head after one of the avocados hits him. Another employee tries to dodge the flying fruit.
“This action, what he do, it’s not normal,” an employee told News 4 New York. “They start arguing with each other and the customer grabbed the avocado and threw it right in his face.”
The two men also smashed watermelons and tossed merchandise before leaving the store.
The clerk suffered a gash, fractures to his face and a broken jaw. He was listed in serious but stable condition at Lincoln Hospital. An employee at the deli said he had to have surgery on his eyes.
Local
The attack happened on Memorial Day, but police released the video Tuesday in the hope of finding the two suspects, who authorities believe are in their 20s.
