Accused Killer Of Harlem Deli Worker Is Arrested Months Later: Police

EAST HARLEM, NY — The man accused of fatally stabbing an employee at an East Harlem deli last fall has been arrested nearly seven months after the killing, police said this week.

Christian Diaz, a 25-year-old Staten Island resident, was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with murder and weapon possession in connection with the Oct. 19 killing of Ahmed Almulaki.

Almulaki, 34, was working at the Gourmet Deli on Second Avenue near East 102nd Street when he got into an argument with Diaz — reportedly after he denied Diaz a 50-cent credit to buy cigarettes, according to the Daily News.

When Diaz left the store shortly before midnight and began pounding on the windows, Almulaki followed him outside and the men got into a fight on the street, the Daily News reported — at which point Diaz allegedly took out a weapon and stabbed Almoliki on the left side of his body.

Almoliki was rushed to New York Presbyterian Hospital with a stab wound to the torso, where he was pronounced dead. The killing triggered outrage in the neighborhood, with a vigil outside the deli hours later drawing then-mayoral candidates Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa.

Police also released surveillance footage showing the suspect days later, and asked the public for help identifying him.