The embattled DA was silent as he arrived at his midtown Manhattan office first thing Monday, casually walking in without a word as The Post asked if he had any comment on the controversial case of 61-year-old Jose Alba.
Bragg has faced a backlash since his office decided to charge Alba with second-degree murder in the killing of an ex-con who attacked him behind a Manhattan bodega counter last week.
Surveillance footage of the fatal ordeal showed the bodega employee fighting off an enraged Austin Simon, 35, moments before Alba stabbed him inside the Hamilton Heights grocery store on July 1.
Surveillance video from Friday night inside the Hamilton Heights grocery store at Broadway and 139th. United Bodegas of America officials revealed over the weekend that they will meet with Bragg on Tuesday. Alvin Bragg ignores questions about NYC worker Jose Alba as he arrives at work this morning.Stephan Jeremias for New York
New video obtained by The Post on Sunday appears to show Simon’s girlfriend allegedly pulling a knife from her purse and stabbing Alba in the shoulder during the chaos.
Simon later died in hospital from his stab wounds and Alba was immediately taken into custody and charged.
The slain ex-con’s girlfriend has not been charged in the case.
Jose Alba walks out of the Tombs and into the custody of the New York Sheriff’s Department on July 7, 2022, in New York City. Alec Tabak
United Bodegas of America officials revealed over the weekend that they will meet with Bragg on Tuesday to plead with him to drop the charge against Alba, claiming it was self-defense.
The group also suggested that the Big Apple should adopt a local version of Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law after Alba’s arrest.
“Mr. Alba was clearly defending himself from a younger and stronger man who attacked him,” UBA president Radames Rodriguez said.
“There was no time for Mr. Alba to think when his life was in danger. The videotapes clearly show who was the aggressor in this case. Austin Simon went behind the bench to beat Jose Alba and possibly kill him, Jose just defended with whatever he got.”
Alba was initially held at Riker’s Island on $250,000 bail until Bragg’s office negotiated a reduced amount that allowed him to post a $5,000 bond in the wake of the extensive background check.
