Two busted in robberies that left Duane Reade worker with bullet in the face
Police arrested a Bronx man and his nephew Tuesday in a string of Queens robberies — including one that left a Duane Reade worker fighting for his life with a gunshot wound to the face.
Police sources identified the suspects as Scott Brack and his nephew Elgin Brack.
The pair were allegedly trying to rob a Woodside, Queens, Duane Reade early Monday when one of the men blasted 49-year-old clerk Alejandro de Leon in the face.
The men callously left de Leon “to die,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said during a press conference Tuesday.
“We believe we have the shooter, and we have the firearm recovered,” Shea said.
A .45-caliber handgun was recovered from a backpack inside a silver Honda matching the description of the getaway car, sources said.
After de Leon was shot, the duo calmly hit three other Queens convenience stores, usually buying a candy bar and then ordering the clerk to empty his till when the register opened.
One did the robberies while the other acted as the getaway driver, Shea said.
De Leon’s daughter, Ely de Leon, was relieved to learn of the arrests Tuesday — while still praying for the father of two to pull through.
“That’s really, really good. That’s a really huge relief, being that my dad is still in critical condition,” she told The Post of the arrests.
“As of now, he’s still in ICU, still in critical condition,” she said of her father. “But he’s somewhat stable. So far so good. He was able to move his legs and his hands as he was trying to wake up. He did that on his own. Thank God. We pray that he continues this way.”
Investigators believe they have all suspects in custody, Shea said.
The pair were awaiting arraignment in Brooklyn federal court Tuesday afternoon.
Additional reporting by Max Jaeger