On December 14th, a young Brooklyn deli worker lost his life in a robbery attempt in Brooklyn. Ricardo Senatus has been charged with murder after fatally shooting Fadhl Moosa in the head after demanding cash from him at the Flatbush Deli Corp., which was owned by Moosa’s family. He was there helping out while his father was in Yemen.

According to reports, Senatus demanded money from Moosa while he was working the counter at the deli. When he refused, Senatus shot him. Senatus then fled the scene with an unspecified amount of money. He was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder, robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Considered “Not a Threat”

Both men apparently knew each other. Senatus, who has been described as emotionally disturbed, was a regular at the deli, and Moosa had even given him a free sandwich earlier that day before he was shot. The Moosa family was well known in the local community for their generosity toward others when they were in need, just like giving Senatus an egg sandwich earlier that morning. Locals said that Senatus was not considered a threat and that he often came to the store.

Youth Gun Violence in Brooklyn Has Spiked

Brooklyn is no newcomer to gun violence, but when it is particularly senseless, it leaves the community wondering what can be done. According to the New York Post, as of October 1 of this year, gun violence has claimed the lives of 21 minors in 2021, with several since that report. Reports have suggested that youth shooting deaths this year were double that of the previous two years.

City officials blame many factors, including the isolation during COVID, the shutdown of many important city programs during that time, and gang violence filling those voids. While new New York City mayor-elect Eric Adams visited the crime scene, he vowed he would be much more visible than his predecessor in the communities that have suffered the recent spike in violence in the city.

He also promised a return of the controversial plainclothes police presence in the area. In 2020, NYPD disbanded plainclothes police after widespread protests over racial profiling and the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. These units served the more violent communities in the city. Many believe, including the mayor-elect, that it is one of the reasons for the recent spike in gun violence, and he made it part of his platform. Others feel that more police presence is not the answer.

The Right to Legal Defense

As for Ricardo Senatus, he is currently facing serious criminal charges and penalties, including a possible death penalty for first-degree murder alone. It remains to be seen how his defense will be framed. In some reports, self-defense has been suggested. His emotional state may further play into the defense. Regardless of whether Senatus is guilty or not in the court of public opinion, however, the Sixth Amendment still affords him the right to legal counsel.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense, you also have the right to skilled criminal defense. Arkady Bukh has aggressively represented those charged with serious crimes since 2006 and is considered one of the preeminent legal voices in the city today.

Contact Bukh Law Firm to understand your legal rights if you have been accused or charged with a crime in New York.