Uptown Fish Market Worker Charged With Assault Following Fight: NYPD

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — An uptown fish market worker has been charged with assault after stabbing two men during a fight that broke out over alleged stolen shrimp in the business earlier this week, according to police and reports.

The employee, Junior Aquino Hernandez, 34, was initially charged with murder, before the Manhattan District Attorney's office announced on Thursday that the charge would be downgraded to assault in the first degree for the time being, the New York Post reported.

The fight started after Malik Burrell, 25, and his brother Bobby, 29, began sparring Tuesday night with Express Fish Market employees within the store near West 155th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, police said and the Daily News reported.

The brothers were accused of refusing to pay for their seafood order, specifically an order of shrimp and lobster, according to the Daily News. The men were going to bring the food to their grandma's house nearby to celebrate Burrell's birthday, according to the report.

During the melee, Hernandez stabbed both brothers with a large knife, police said.

The two men were rushed to the hospital, where Burrell was pronounced dead, and Bobby remains in stable condition, police said.

Burrell was visiting from Maryland to celebrate the birthday, according to the Daily News.

Hernandez was arrested at the scene and has been charged with murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.

“I know damn well my sons ain’t stealing nothing,” Robert Burrell told the Daily News. as he stood on a sidewalk stained with his sons’ blood. “They have no reason to steal, they have money. ... My son came up here to chill with his brother and enjoy his birthday, that’s it.”