Owner charged after allegedly shooting shoplifter outside Queens liquor store

RIDGEWOOD, Queens (PIX11) --- A liquor store owner is accused of shooting a shoplifter during a brawl outside his Queens store on Monday, authorities said.

Francisco Valerio, 53, was charged with assault after firing his gun while trying to pistol-whip the thief outside Franja Wine and Liquors at 785 Wyckoff Ave. in Ridgewood at around 7:40 p.m., according to prosecutors. Valerio was previously charged with reckless endangerment before the charges were upgraded.

Kevin Pullatasi, 20, was shot in the abdomen and had internal bleeding. The suspect needed surgery to remove bullet fragments and remained hospitalized, as of Wednesday, officials said.

Valerio and his brother, Luis, saw Pullatasi and his accomplice, Edwin Poaquiza, 20, take some liquor bottles and made them put them back on the shelves before asking them to leave the store, according to court records.

The owner and his brother then allegedly shoved the two men out of the store and blocked the door while Pullatasi and Poaquiza stood on the sidewalk. The four men then argued before Pullatasi ran back and a brawl ensued.

Surveillance video showed the Pullatasi kicking the men in the doorframe before the owner came out with his gun and swung at him, knocking him to the ground. Pullatasi is then seen falling on the ground holding his stomach before he crawls backwards and leans up against a parked car. The shooting is not clear in the footage.

"I grabbed my gun to him, as you can see in the video. I didn't realize he got shot," Valerio said in the criminal complaint.

Valerio had a license to carry a concealed weapon. He pleaded not guilty and was released without bail at his Tuesday arraignment, according to court records.

The charges against Pullatasi are pending, authorities said. Poaquiza was charged with petit larceny, authorities said.

"As alleged, brazen thieves stole merchandise from a neighborhood liquor shop.  After the store was targeted by these shoplifters, the stolen merchandise was recovered and the two men were escorted out of the store.  At that point, the store owner was physically attacked by one of the men.  Unfortunately, as alleged, that led to a reckless shooting by the store owner on a public street in broad daylight," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement.

Valerio's Legal Aid lawyer declined to comment on the case.