On the night of April 25, 2026, a fatal encounter unfolded outside a beloved East Village deli, leaving a 28-year-old worker dead. The victim was identified as Abdul Saleh, a Yemeni man who was a cherished figure in his community. An argument that began inside Sal's Deli & Grocery on Avenue B and East 13th Street tragically escalated, spilling onto the sidewalk where Saleh was shot in the torso around 11:30 p.m. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Saleh, a married father of two young children, had just returned from a trip to Yemen to visit his family the very day he was killed.
The incident that led to Saleh's death reportedly started over a refused meal. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Kavone Horton, allegedly argued with Saleh after refusing to pay for food. The dispute moved outside the deli, where Horton is accused of shooting Saleh. In a strange turn of events, Horton was also injured during the altercation, reportedly struck by a ricocheting bullet from his own gun. He was taken to the same hospital as Saleh and was listed in stable condition.
An arrest was made the following day, on April 26, 2026. Kavone Horton, who lived near the deli, was charged with murder, manslaughter, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon while he was still recovering in the hospital. Reports indicate that Horton was a known figure to the employees of the deli, with Saleh's cousin stating that four police reports had been previously filed against him for menacing behavior. The community mourned Saleh's death with a growing memorial of flowers and candles outside the deli, remembering him as a kind and generous man who looked out for his neighbors.
