Sentencing in Mount Vernon Deli Shooting

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Juan Picart of 210 S. 5th Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York was sentenced to 20 years in state prison Wednesday in connection with a shooting at a local deli.

He had been found guilty by a jury on June 15, 2016 of:

 one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class “B” Violent Felony,

 one count of First Degree Assault, a class “B” Violent Felony,

 one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” Violent Felony,

 one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a class “E” Felony.

At about 4:02 p.m. June 1, 2015, Picart shot a man six times with a .45 caliber handgun, Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty said.

This happened in broad daylight in front of other customers inside the Top Deli Market at 16 East 3rd St.

Video from inside the deli captured the shooting, and Picart was positively identified by multiple witnesses.

The victim was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. He required emergency surgery. He survived the shooting.

An intensive search was conducted by the Mount Vernon Police Department during the following three weeks. In that time, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s sister’s house in Yonkers. Police recovered clothing that was worn by Picart during the shooting, as seen in the video. Gunshot residue was found on the clothing.

The 26-year-old was eventually located after police tracked his cellphone to a friend’s house in Mount Vernon where he was staying.

When police searched the home, they located the .45 caliber handgun inside a toilet tank. Ballistics matched the gun to the shooting. Picart's DNA was matched to the clothing recovered from his sister’s house.

After the verdict, Picart was remanded into the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections.

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Flecha of the Superior Court Trial Division prosecuted.