Man Who Stabbed Deli Worker to Death Sentenced to 20 Years

Slowly as the wheel of justice sometimes turns, it can be shocking when, from out of the mists of time and mourning, punishment is at last dispensed. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg recently announcement that nearly four years after he stabbed an East Harlem deli worker to death, a former Staten Island resident, Christian Diaz, 28, was being punished for his crime.

That this crime wasn’t deemed murder, as one might expect, but rather Manslaughter in the First Degree, explains the relatively light sentence of 20 years.

“Christian Diaz has been sentenced to a significant prison term for killing Ahmed Almulaiki, a hardworking deli worker who was supporting his family,” said Bragg. “The defendant’s aggressive and threatening behavior escalated to deadly violence, leaving Mr. Almulaiki’s family with immense heartache and grief. I thank our prosecutors for putting a compelling case in front of the jury to hold this defendant accountable, and may Ahmed Almulaiki’s legacy be celebrated for years to come.”

As proven at trial, and according to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on Oct. 19, 2021, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Diaz entered K&B Deli, owned Amulaiki’s brother-in-law, at 1980 Second Ave., near the northwest corner of 102nd Street, where Almulaiki and his 25-year-old co-worker were working behind the counter.

While this address—which is today home of 102 Family Organic Deli— is just six short blocks of the traditional Upper East Side border of 96th, with the George Washington Houses NYCHA project just across Second Avenue, its character reflects that of East Harlem and 23rd Precinct / PSA 5, the NYPD Housing unit covering area projects.

Diaz confronted the co-worker when he refused to give him a “loosie” cigarette on store credit. During the confrontation, Diaz threatened both deli workers stating he would kill them, while placing his hand in his waistband. Diaz left the store after several minutes, banged on the window, and began walking down the street before turning around and heading back.

As Diaz approached the deli, Almulaiki grabbed a golf club and the co-worker grabbed a stick. Diaz pulled out a knife, and a confrontation ensued on the street immediately in front of the store, in which Almulaiki swung at Diaz with the golf club and missed. Diaz grabbed the golf club from Almulaiki and stabbed him in the arm and torso.

Diaz fled, while Almulaiki made it inside the deli before collapsing. He was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead from the stab wound to his torso. Almulaiki, 34, hailed from Yemen, and left behind a wife and pre-teen daughter.

Diaz went on the lam, first to Pennsylvania, then Florida, before being arrested in May 2022, on Staten Island, after three friends who knew Diaz from high school in Queens tipped off police.

At Diaz’s arraignment, a relative of the man he killed wore a memorial T-shirt. “Justice for Ahmed Almulaiki” it read, above a photo of the victim. “Died Oct. 20, 2021.”