A man in his 20’s was pronounced dead Thursday afternoon after being found with “blunt force trauma” to his head around 2 p.m. at the BNC General Merchandise store at 906 Amsterdam Avenue between 104th and 105th street, according to an NYPD spokesman. An alert from the 24th precinct said that there had been a robbery at the scene. The man was pronounced dead at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Details were sketchy as of Thursday afternoon — the police spokesman had no further information on what sort of altercation led to the man’s death. No one had been arrested for the crime as of Thursday evening.
The Daily News reported that the man who was killed was named Bubacarr Camara, and his father owns the store. “The register at the store was open and had apparently been rifled through, police sources said.”
BNC General Merchandise is owned by “an African guy who is extremely friendly and doesn’t bother anyone,” one local told us. “I go in there about once a week, very friendly family-owned business. They are known by everyone in the neighborhood.” BNC sells t-shirts and other clothing.
The building is across the street from the YMCA known as the Grosvenor Neighborhood House, which has programs for children.
The investigation is ongoing, police said.
UPDATE: Police released images of three suspects.
Photos and additional reporting by Virginia Valerio.
My heart goes out to his family.
I can’t imagine what they’re going through. My heart breaks for them.
That was the Cazal spot, damn the hood really is the hood these days. Watch yourself, my heart is with the family. Be easy y’all
Can you clarify what “damn the hood really is the hood these days.” means? Do you know the family? Do you spend anytime on that block?
He means what you think he means and he is correct!
The projects are across the street. Will be interesting to see where the perp lives!
This is sickening. My parents and grandparents had a mom-pop store like the Camaras. Our store was in a terrible part of town and my folks were robbed at gunpoint and knifepoint a few times. The fear of getting killed just for putting in an honest day’s work was real and palpable.
The Camaras served our community and they need all of our thoughts, prayers, and support. WSR, is there any place to send a donation to the Camaras or at least offer words of support?
Good question. We’ll let everyone know when we find out.
To kill for the contents of a cash register– is this drug-inspired?
If so, many among us are responsible for having created this illicit market.
I walk this block almost daily, sometimes 2 – 3 X and have shopped in this store. The people working there could not be nicer or more pleasant. I am so sorry this happened. Very possibly drug related as the 24th precinct is four blocks away, just off Amsterdam.
So sad and also puzzling. Walk past this spot once or twice a day and it is a busy block with retail stores on either side, school still in session across the street, etc. Seems like this happened mid-day; why are there no more details? Somebody must have seen something.
My heart goes out to the family as well. Hope the scum who did this are quickly found. So awful.
This is the 7 or 8th violent crime – shootings, assaults, etc. — up in Manhattan Valley within the past year. Other ones were on Columbus Ave. between 104th & 109th. Why isn’t the 24th Precinct doing more to protect the area? Obviously, they’re not doing enough, particularly with the huge projects in the area, which are crime centers.
As a 40-year resident of this part of the UWS, I’ve never had much faith in the 24th Pct’s ability to prevent crime and violence before the fact (as opposed to investigate it afterward).
Now, with the cutbacks in stop and frisk, I fear things will only get worse over time.
Let’s not dwell on crime statistics (and there will always be those who love to recite the numbers).
I speak from some experience. About eight years ago (I was 62), only a few steps from the Post Office on W. 104th St., I was beaten by a young thug from the project. I totally believe had it not been for stop-and-frisk, I might have been shot and killed.
If anyone can’t figure this out for themselves, I will take the time to explain it.
sure, I’m always willing to give FACTS instead of rumors and anecdotes.
First of all, this murder (the first this year in the 24th and the 20th precincts) was terrible and sad. I feel for the family.
Now some facts:
there have been a total of 3 shooting incidents in the 24th this year-to-date, up from 1 in that same period last year.
felony assault is way way down in the 24th. year to date, it is down 40.4% from last year.
(all my ytd #s are as of 6/7).
overall serious crime in the 24th is down slightly (0.48%) from last year, through 6/7.
so maybe we can say that the 24th pct and the NYPD continue to do SOMETHING right.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs024pct.pdf
Gretchen, maybe Bruce Bernstein can clue us all in
This is unbelievable. I think that part of Amsterdam has gotten a little rougher over the last 3-4 years, but I would never have imagined something like this would occur.
DNAinfo has pictures of the suspects walking away from the store, so I assume it is only a matter of time before they are picked up. The sooner the better.
Sympathy to the family.
Terribly sad that so many have no regard for human life. How about the Ministers in the Community? They have
stronger influence on the community than the police. Why don’t the Ministers get out there and take a stand against violence.
Just sayin!