A Manhattan convenience store worker charged with murder after getting into a fight with a violent ex-con at his store over the weekend finally went home Thursday night after being released on bail.
Jose Alba, 61, arrived at his Hamilton Heights apartment around 8:30 p.m. wearing an electronic monitor hours after a Manhattan judge agreed to lower his sky-high bail from $250,000 to $50,000.
Alba, who was accompanied by one of his sons, covered his face and refused to answer questions when he went inside.
Jose Alba arrives at his home in Hamilton Heights on Thursday night. Christopher Sadowski Alba refused to answer questions from reporters after returning home. Christopher Sadowski
Before his release, Alba was jailed at Rikers Island on a murder charge for his fatal encounter with Austin Simon, 35, on Friday night at the Hamilton Heights bodega where he worked.
Alba’s relatives and boss provided the $5,000 needed for his bail.
As part of his release agreement, Alba is also prohibited from leaving New York and had to surrender his passport, guaranteeing that he will not go to the Dominican Republic on a pre-planned trip.
Alba without handcuffs. Alec Tabak, a bodega employee in New York City, Jose Alba was released after posting bail. Alec Tabak Alba’s bail was reduced from $250,000 to $50,000. Alec Tabak
Alba was working at the Hamilton Heights grocery store on Broadway when he was attacked by Simon, a career criminal with a history of violence, who stormed behind the counter and slammed him into a wall, the video shows.
The ex-prisoner then grabbed Alba as the frightened clerk tried to get past him – grabbing a knife and stabbing it into Simon at least five times.
Simon’s girlfriend also allegedly pulled a knife from her purse and stabbed Alba three times in the shoulder and arm, according to his attorney. She has not been charged, with prosecutors saying only that “we are continuing to review the evidence and the investigation is ongoing.”
Alba was released from handcuffs on Thursday. Alec Tabak
Alba can be seen in the footage bleeding from his stab wounds and holding his knife as he waits for police to arrive – only to have them arrest him and take him into custody.
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