A former employee has been charged with murder in the stabbing death of a 69-year-old Brooklyn IHOP worker, police said Monday.
Wilbert Salazar Rios, 44, is charged with killing Hector Reinoso Perez inside the IHOP on Flatlands Ave. near Louisana Ave. in East New York.
The two men had always been friendly, the victim’s family told the Daily News.
But on Friday, just past 10:35 p.m., the two got into a fatal confrontation when Salazar Rios paid a visit to his old workplace, police said.
Medics rushed Reinoso Perez to Brookdale University Hospital, where he died from being stabbed in the upper body.
Salazar Rios, who cut his hand as he attacked Reinoso Perez, was taken into custody when officers got there, police said.
The suspect, who lives in Hempstead, was charged with murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
The victim, a hardworking immigrant grandfather, had what his granddaughter called “a good friendship” with the accused killer.
“They never had arguments,” said the granddaughter, who did not give her name. “They were good.”
“They were all talking casually,” Danelis Reinoso, 43, the victim’s daughter, told The News Saturday, speaking in Spanish as his granddaughter translated. “(Reinoso Perez) went to the bathroom. He got up to go to the bathroom and the guy, he chased after him and he stabbed him.”
The killer stabbed him only once but the long blade tore through his kidneys, liver and other organs, Reinoso said.
“The doctors couldn’t do anything,” she said. “He stabbed him so hard. He wanted him to die.”
The victim immigrated from the Dominican Republic about five years ago in search of a better life.
“He found a job here (at IHOP) and he actually really loved his job,” the granddaughter said. “He’s worked at that job ever since he came.”
Reinoso Perez worked in the front of the restaurant on Fridays and as a dishwasher other days.
“He was a very caring, sweet person and he never had any problems with anyone,” his daughter said. “He never got into any trouble.”
