Gunman Indicted in Fatal Shooting of Deli Clerk- NY News

Homeless Man Accused of Killing Worker 

Tackled by Off-Duty Cop

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By Dan Gesslein 

Queens Voice 

December 9, 2020

A Queens grand jury has indicted a homeless man in the shooting death of a deli worker. An off-duty police officer stopped the gunman as he tried to shoot another employee, prosecutors say.

Steven Cohen, 63, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on murder, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon and other charges for allegedly shooting and killing a 26-year-old deli worker on October 26, 2020.

Surveillance video captured the moment Off-Duty Police Officer Jason Maharaj tackled a gunman inside a Queens deli.

“The defendant’s alleged actions took the life of one man, and could have ended with another man being killed if not for the brave actions of an off-duty police officer who selflessly stepped in and disarmed the defendant,” said Queens DA Melinda Katz. “We are thankful that the officer heroically intervened to apprehend the defendant.” 

At around 6:15 pm on October 26, Steven Cohen, 63, got into an arguement with an employee inside Cross Bay Express Deli, at 137-02 Cross Bay Boulevard. Cohen, who is said to have been living inside a car parked in front of the deli, had been thrown out of the store for his behavior. 

However, prosecutors say he returned a short time later with a Colt revolver and opened fire. One of the multiple shots fired struck and killed Tarwala Mahmadkhurshid who worked at the deli. 

Prosecutors say that after hitting Mahmadkhurshid, Cohen opened fire on another employee but missed. 

It was then that Officer Jason Maharaj rushed the gunman, and pushed him outside the store onto the floor of the parking lot. Disarming him. Maharaj was off duty shopping in the store at the time.