Bodega owners across the city on Thursday applauded a Bronx judge’s decision to release without bail a Bronx bodega worker accused of weapons possession after the merchant used a gun to fend off armed robbers.
Judge Eugene Bowen ordered Jhony Gomez Cordero released after arraigning him on charges of criminal possession of a weapon and possession of ammunition following the Thanksgiving shooting.
“Heroes like Jhony should be celebrated, not criminalized,” said Fernando Mateo, a spokesman for the United Bodegas of America.
Cordero, 57, said he found the gun in the bathroom trash can of his Mi Gerizin Market in Melrose, which he’s operated for 13 years, when he opened the store at 6 a.m. Thanksgiving morning.
He said he had planned to bring the gun to the local police precinct later on after going to church but decided to use it when two masked gunmen stormed into the store around 9:15 a.m.
Police said Cordero shot at the two robbers, striking one of them in the foot.
Responding police officers took both Cordero and the wounded robber into custody. The second robber got away, police said.
The wounded suspect, who was 17, was sent to Family Court and released, prosecutors said.
Cordero, a husband and father of four, surrendered to police Tuesday.
Cops initially charged Cordero with attempted murder, as well as weapons possession, but prosecutors only charged him with weapons possession when they took the case.
Mateo publicly thanked Judge Bowen for releasing Cordero on Thursday.
“Jhony courageously defended his business, employees and customers from two masked gunmen who entered his bodega on Thanksgiving morning to commit armed robbery,” Mateo said. “The criminals threatened everyone in the store with violence, leaving Jhony no choice but to act in defense of innocent lives.”
But Cordero isn’t out of the woods yet. He is scheduled to appear back in court on Dec. 19 to answer the charges of criminal possession of weapons and ammunition, officials said.
Mateo said the United Bodegas of America will be in the gallery, giving Cordero their support.
“If this continues, we risk losing the courageous individuals who intervene to stop abuse, protect women, children, the elderly and our most vulnerable,” Mateo said. “Without them, the battle against crime and violence becomes all the more difficult.”
