Gunman Arrested in Deli Shooting Where Bystander was Killed - Cops Say

Victim was Just Buying Chips When He Was Shot

Police have made an arrest in the murder of Stefon Barnes, the bystander who was shot inside a Bronx deli. -Family Handout

By Dan Gesslein 

Bronx Voice 

April 17, 2024

BRONX -  A Mount Vernon man was arrested in the fatal shooting inside a Bronx bodega. Cops said Stefon Barnes was just an innocent bystander buying chips when he was shot inside the store. 

The NYPD announced the arrest of 31-year-old Schward Bee of Mount Vernon. He was charged with murder, robbery and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. 

Cops say Bee is the gunman who fatally shot 29-year-old Stefon Barnes during a struggle inside the deli. Barnes was an innocent bystander and not the intended target.

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At around 4:30 am on March 31, Barnes was inside Gourmet Deli at 851 East Tremont Avenue. Cops said a man walked up to a customer and displayed a handgun. As the gunman tried to remove the victim’s property an “altercation” started and the gunman fired. The bullet missed the target but instead struck Barnes in the right thigh. 

The gunman ran out of the deli and was last seen running westbound on East Tremont Avenue.

Barnes was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital but died from his injuries a short time later.

Barnes had just popped into the deli to by a bag of chips after working an event as a club promoter. He went to buy something to eat when the gunman and the intended target began struggling behind him on line. The gun went off and Barnes was hit.