A worker was stabbed after a suspected theft turned into a sidewalk fight.
BRONX, N.Y. — Police were searching Friday for a man accused of stabbing a deli worker during a shoplifting confrontation outside a Soundview store, according to police sources and witnesses.
The worker, 26, was stabbed in the leg just before 10 a.m. outside a deli at Westchester and Stratford avenues. He was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover, while investigators gathered evidence at the scene.
The incident began when a man allegedly tried to steal a pack of cookies, witnesses said. Store workers confronted him, and the confrontation moved outside. Surveillance video showed several people struggling on the sidewalk as a bat and knife appeared in the air during the fight.
A witness said the man became violent and stabbed the worker before running away. Police described the suspect as wearing all black. One witness said the man also appeared to be wearing a leather jacket. Officials had not released his name or confirmed whether he remained in the area.
The stabbing left a pool of blood on the sidewalk for hours, witnesses said. Investigators were seen collecting evidence near the deli as neighbors watched from the block. The store sits in a busy part of Soundview where residents said the deli has been a familiar business for decades.
Neighbors said theft has been an ongoing concern at the store, though police did not say whether any earlier complaints were tied to Friday’s attack. The worker’s name was not released. Police also did not say whether the weapon had been recovered.
No arrest had been reported by Friday evening. Detectives were expected to review surveillance video, interview witnesses and track the suspect’s movements after he fled. Any charges would be determined after an arrest and review by prosecutors.
The case remained open as police searched for the man seen leaving the deli area. The worker’s injuries were not considered life-threatening as of May 23, 2026.
Author note: Last updated May 23, 2026.