Man Arrested for Threatening Cashier at Upper West Side Supermarket with Air Gun: Police

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A man is facing charges after threatening a supermarket cashier with an air gun, police said.

Kendale Nelson, 22, has been charged with second-degree robbery, a class C felony, as well as additional misdemeanor charges of menacing and criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to court records. He was arrested after a July 23 incident where he entered a Morton Williams on the 900 block of 9th Avenue, brandished an air gun at the cashier and stole a sandwich from the supermarket, police said.

During the incident Nelson reportedly told the cashier, "Why are you looking at me? It’s because I’m black. You aren’t looking at the white people,” reported DNAinfo. “I will shoot you. I will kill you,” Nelson told the cashier. A police spokesman did not confirm that Nelson said the above statement.

Nelson was arrested near the Morton Williams shortly after the incident, police said. While arresting Nelson police were able to recover an air gun, marijuana and Xanax pills during a search.

Nelson is schedule to appear in court on Thursday, July 28. He is currently being held on $25,000 bail, according to court records.