Suffolk Man Convicted Of Murder In Double Fatal Copiague Deli Shooting

COPIAGUE, NY — A Copiague man faces up to 75 years to life in prison after jurors found him guilty Thursday of murder after two men were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting at a Copiague deli.

Dionicio Calderon, 65, was convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree attempted murder, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced.

On Dec. 12, 2020, Calderon walked into La Vaquita deli located at 2340 Great Neck Rd. in Copiague shortly after 6p.m., according to trial evidence. Minutes later — and without any
warning — he pulled out a 9 mm handgun and opened fire.

He first shot 47-year-old Manuel Cruz Hernandez, a customer, multiple times in the head and body. Calderon then turned the gun on 61-year-old Bolivar Rodriguez, the deli owner, shooting him once in the head. Hernandez and Rodriguez both died of their injuries.

Calderon continued shooting, striking two other customers, 40-year-old Daniel Acosta, who was struck once in the torso, and 30-year-old Juan Avila Roque, who was struck in the left arm and chest.

Acosta and Roque were hospitalized for approximately two weeks for their injuries.

The shooting was captured on high-definition surveillance video.

Calderon was apprehended hours later leaving his house with cash, jewelry, and a suitcase full of clothing. He was still wearing the sweatshirt that he had on during the shooting, which subsequently tested positive for gunshot residue, prosecutors said.

Law enforcement later found the 9 mm handgun used in the shooting hidden on Calderon’s property.

During the defense case, Calderon took the stand to testify and admitted to shooting multiple people inside the deli, but claimed he was threatened, prosecutors said.

During cross-examination, Calderon admitted he bought the gun illegally off the street, and that no one else in the deli had weapons. He also admitted that he could have walked out of the deli, but chose not to, prosecutors said.

“This defendant opened fire inside a public place with little regard to the consequences of his actions, killing and wounding multiple victims,” said Tierney. “I thank the jury for their careful attention to this case which gives justice to the victims and their families. The defendant’s outrageously violent conduct in this case should be enough to ensure that he is never released from prison again.”

Calderon is scheduled to be sentenced March 16.

Patch has reached out to Ian Fitzgerald, Calderon's attorney, for comment, and will update when we hear back.