Man charged in Bronx deli worker’s murder held without bail

A Bronx man accused in a deadly deli shooting in Mott Haven faced a judge Tuesday.
Leonard Nieves, 33, is charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon in the death of store clerk Yahya Almuntser, on Valentine's Day.
Police believe Nieves, who for five days had escaped arrest, is the same man on captured on surveillance video during the incident. In it, the man is seen wearing a ski mask and walking with a cane before entering the B & A Gourmet Deli on Brook Avenue where police say he fired several rounds into the chest of Almuntser, who was working behind the counter.
Authorities are still looking into a specific motive, but several published reports indicate that the shooting was drug-related, and that Nieves did not say a word when he allegedly fired point blank at Almuntser.
The prosecution is now moving forward to present its case before a grand jury for an indictment.
His lawyer told a judge that Nieves will be telling his side of the story to a grand jury.
The defendant's family was also in court. When asked if they had anything to say about the case, they answered “no comment.”
Nieves is being held without bail. He is due back in court on March 2.