In the summer of 2020, a young Black man named Kaseem Scott, 25, was fatally shot in a brazen attack inside a Staten Island deli. The incident occurred on the evening of July 22, 2020, at the Holland Ave Deli on Richmond Terrace in the Arlington neighborhood. Scott, who lived on the same street as the deli, was struck in the chest by a single bullet and was later pronounced dead at Richmond University Medical Center.
The entire tragic event was captured on the store's surveillance camera, showing a masked gunman walk past a woman in the aisle before turning to shoot Scott.
At the time of his death, Scott had only been out of prison for a week, having been released on parole after serving time for a gun possession charge. His past included other encounters with violence; he had survived a shooting in 2017 at a gentleman's club and was subsequently arrested on a weapons charge that same year. Friends and family remembered Kaseem as a fun-loving person with a great sense of humor who enjoyed music, writing rhymes, and spending time with his loved ones. His obituary noted his kindness, generosity, and loyalty.
For three years, the case remained unsolved, leaving a void for his family and community. Then, in August 2023, a breakthrough was made. The New York Police Department arrested 26-year-old Abdul Olasupo in connection with the fatal shooting. Olasupo, who also resided on Holland Avenue, was charged with murder, criminal possession of a firearm, and reckless endangerment, bringing a long-awaited development in the quest for justice for Kaseem Scott.
