Wanted suspect identified in caught-on-video Brooklyn smoke shop stabbing death over bad manners
Cops have identified a suspect in the caught-on-video Brooklyn smoke shop stabbing death of a stranger who complained about the killer’s bad manners, police said Wednesday.
Edwin Pedroza, 42, is wanted for the senseless slaying of Joan Nunez, 37, the night of Sept. 20 on Fourth Ave. near President St. in Gowanus, police said.
Cops released a mug shot of Pedroza and are asking the public’s help tracking him down.
Shocking video obtained by the Daily News shows the crazed fight that started inside the shop and ended outside.
“You didn’t even say thank you,” Nunez, 37, told the killer after holding the door for him as they both walked into the shop, according to a worker who witnessed the exchange.
“I didn’t ask you to hold it!” the killer responded.
The two men fought, bouncing off a glass counter at one point during the scuffle, video shows.
At another point, Nunez had his right hand on the killer’s throat as they battled, and the store clerk called 911.
The strangers both headed outside, where the confrontation turned deadly in just 30 seconds, the video shows.
Nunez assumed a fighting stance and taunted the other man before knocking over his e-bike, with the rider quickly making good on his threat to stab the victim with a single knife thrust into the victim’s chest.
“After he got stabbed, he was surprised,” the store worker said. “He was taunting [the biker]. My perspective, he asked for it.”
The killer took off on his bike as Nunez, in a white shirt soon soaked with blood, jumped up and down on the sidewalk before he realized he was knifed.
Nunez, who lived in a nearby shelter, died at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Brooklyn Methodist.
His neighbors at the shelter were still stunned Wednesday by Nunez’s slaying.
“We was all cool with him. He didn’t deserve that,” James Jones, 56, told the Daily News.
Jones said if he was with the victim he would have intervened, and Nunez would still be alive.
“He didn’t gotta say thank you!” Jones said about Nunez’s killer. “[Nunez] would’ve walked away. He was a humble person.”
Shelter resident John Thomas was also shocked by Nunez’s murder.
“He didn’t bother anybody,” Thomas said of Nunez. “[He was] quiet.”
Pedroza was last seen riding toward Carroll St. wearing a black jacket, white shirt and black jeans and carrying a black book bag as he rode into the darkness.
Police said Pedroza’s last known address is in Staten Island. His prior arrest history was not immediately clear.
Anyone with information about Pedroza is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
