NEW YORK — Two individuals have been taken into custody on manslaughter charges following the fatal beating of a homeless man who was confronted while he was asleep in a Brooklyn supermarket parking lot, according to police reports.
The suspects are currently waiting to be arraigned, and it remains unclear if they have legal representation available to address the charges against them.
Authorities shared that Cos Jervis Jonas Ajpuac, aged 38, along with another homeless individual, was assaulted with metal pipes and a baseball bat at around 7 p.m. on September 18. Ajpuac sadly passed away due to his injuries on October 2, while the other victim, a 42-year-old man, managed to survive the attack.
Stephen DeGrasse, a security worker at the store, recounted the incident, stating that he had viewed security footage that captured the brutal assault. “They just attacked them while they were sleeping,” he remarked. He pointed out that both the victims and the attackers were regulars at the ShopRite supermarket, often gathering to exchange their collected bottles and cans for the five-cent deposit.
DeGrasse also noted that the victims and their assailants were known to be friends, sometimes sharing beers after redeeming their deposits. However, police have not provided any immediate details regarding what might have instigated the violent confrontation.
