Staten Island deli co-owner fatally shot at Castleton Corners business; leaves behind wife, two children, friends say

A shooter took the life of a Staten Island deli’s hard-working co-owner on Saturday night in a brazen killing that brought tears to victim’s friends, police and people who knew the man said.

The shooting was discovered around 7:50 p.m. by someone who walked into Manor Deli & Convenience on Manor Road near Goodwin Ave. in Castleton Corners, said police.

The person who found the victim called 911 and reported a possible robbery, cops said.

The victim, 35, had a gunshot wound to his chest, said police. Medics rushed him to Staten Island University Hospital, but he could not be saved.

It was not immediately clear when the man was shot, said cops. His identity was not released on Saturday night.

It was unclear if anything was stolen from the store.

Friends said the shooting victim had shut down another deli in Richmond Terrace and opened the new establishment on Manor Road.

“He came here because it was a nice area,” said one friend, Alex Omer.

The victim leaves behind a wife and two children, said Hazem Alasad, a second friend of the victim who sat crying on a curb across the street from the store on Saturday night.

“Very, very, very hard worker. He worked very hard to support his family. All the way,” Alasad said. “He was very nice and very pleasant. Everybody liked him.”

Police searched Saturday for a suspect or suspects in the killing.