Grocery Worker Beaten To Death On Harlem Street, Indictment Made: DA

HARLEM, NY — A man accused of beating a grocery worker to death with a plank of wood in Harlem was indicted Thursday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office announced.

Carlos Ramirez, 48, was charged with murder in connection to attacking Bernardo Gonzalez Perez, 63, while he was sweeping up the sidewalk outside of the store he worked at 538 W. 138th St., near Broadway, the Manhattan District Attorney said.

“As alleged, Carlos Ramirez beat a hard working grocery store worker to death,” Bragg said in a news release. “Mr. Perez’s passing has left his family distraught and heartbroken and I share in the significant pain they are currently experiencing."

"All store employees deserve to be safe on the job," he added. "I want them to know that we are treating this tragedy with the utmost seriousness and will pursue accountability to the full extent of the law.”

Perez was sweeping outside of the Harlem store about noon on July 7, when Ramirez, who is homeless, walked up to him and picked up a large plank of wood, according to the Manhattan District Attorney and police.

Ramirez proceeded to hit Perez multiple times over the head with the piece of wood, the Manhattan District Attorney said.

Perez was rushed to the hospital where he was going in and out of consciousness, before eventually passing away several days later, the Manhattan District Attorney said.

Ramirez was arrested immediately.