As the New York Post Editorial Board mentions in a new op-ed, Bragg sets a terrible precedent that if someone has an illegal gun, commits a hate crime, or pushes an elderly person to the ground, they will get a minor punishment. Steal from any store or business, and it doesn’t matter how many times that person does it; there will be no arrest or jail time.

But apparently, Braggs will charge you if you defend yourself. Yes, you read that right. Hard-working Jose Alba, 51, was working as a cashier at a small grocery store on Broadway near West 139th Street. A woman and her boyfriend went into the store, as the woman wanted chips but could not pay. Alba did not want to give her the chips for free.

Her boyfriend, Austin Simon, an ex-con and career criminal, went behind the counter to confront Alba. Simon shoved Alba, grabbed Alba from his collar, and began walking with Alba in front of him. But Alba seemed to have grabbed a knife, and when he stood up, they continued fighting, but he quickly turned around and stabbed Simon. Simon was pronounced dead. As Alba came back into the frame, it seemed like his arm was bleeding, possibly due to Simon’s girlfriend stabbing Alba. Alba was holding a bloody knife in his hands. //

Alba defended himself–what he did is called self-defense. That still exists in the United States of America, as much as DAs like Bragg don’t seem to think so. //

Simon threatened Alba and assaulted him. But according to Bragg, an act of self-defense warrants murder in the second degree. Alba had his bail set at $250,000 cash bail, later reduced to $50,000 bail. He is currently being held on Rikers Island.