By Michael V. Cusenza
A Bronx man has been charged with in the March 18 robbery of a Richmond Hill smoke shop during which a 20-year-old employee was fatally shot, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday.
Albert Edwards, 24, was arraigned Monday night on a complaint charging him with murder in the second degree, two counts of robbery in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Judge Diego Freire ordered the defendant to return to court on Aug. 16.
According to the charges:
On March 18, between approximately 12:10 p.m. and 12:16 p.m., video surveillance footage shows Edwards driving a vehicle owned by ZipCar up to The Plug smoke shop at 109-27 Jamaica Ave.
File Photo
: In June, the illegal pot shop was permanently shuttered by the NYPD.
Three men got of the car and went into the smoke shop where they displayed a loaded gun and removed property. One of the men shot store employee Daryus Clarke, of Jamaica, in the torso. The three men then ran back to the car, which sped away.
Clarke was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The three other assailants have not been apprehended.
“A young man lost his life in a senseless act of gun violence,” Katz said. “The defendant will be held responsible for the charges against him.”
If convicted, Edwards faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
In June, The Plug—characterized by officials as an illegal pot shop—was permanently shuttered by the City Police Department.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) noted that his district office received many complaints about The Plug, which was selling unlicensed cannabis and marijuana-related products. Addabbo said he believes that by working with the 102nd Precinct and community leaders, the illegal business was closed by court order on June 7.
However, Addabbo learned from constituents at last month’s Richmond Hill Block Association meeting that the shop had illegally re-opened. Once again, the senator said his office worked with the 102nd Precinct to get The Plug pulled permanently and its owner arrested.
