Murderer Sentenced For Killing UES Deli Clerk, Prosecutor Says

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A 42-year-old man was sentenced to 24 years to life in state prison for shooting a 67-year-old deli clerk named Sueng Chu Choi to death on the Upper East Side, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Monday.

According to Bragg, Kimond Cyrus rode into Manhattan on a moped wearing a hazmat suit late at night on March 3, 2023, and entered the since-closed Daona Deli on East 81st Street and Third Avenue around 11:20 p.m.

Cyrus pulled a gun on a customer in the deli, first, and demanded money, who complied and then was pushed to the floor, according to Bragg. Then, the gunman turned his attention to Choi, who was behind the counter, Bragg said.

When Choi refused to hand over any money, Cyrus pistol-whipped him and put the gun to his head, and demanded that he come with him to the back of the store, where Cyrus shot the 67-year-old in the head, Bragg said.

The customer ran away, and Choi was pronounced dead at the scene, Bragg said.

Police arrested Cyrus less than a week after the shooting when a tip led them to his Bronx apartment, where they found a blue moped and a black pistol, Patch reported at the time.

Police also said that Cyrus robbed three other bodegas at gunpoint while dressed in a Tyvek suit in the week of the March 3 killing.

"Kimond Cyrus was sentenced to a significant state prison term for the horrifying shooting of Sueng Chul Choi as he was working his late-night shift," Bragg said. "Cyrus engaged in escalating turned-deadly gun violence — committing a gunpoint robbery before brazenly ending Mr. Choi’s life. Mr. Choi was a father and a hardworking person, and although we cannot bring him back, I hope that his family and loved ones can take solace knowing this defendant has been brought to justice."

Ahead of the Dec. 5 sentencing, Cyrus pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to Murder in the first degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the second degree in October, Bragg said.

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.