Following backlash Alvin Bragg drops murder charges against man who shot thief after being shot at first

On Saturday, an overnight NYC parking garage worker was initially charged with attempted murder by police after the employee was shot twice by an alleged thief, wrestled the gun from the man, and then allegedly shot the thief with his own gun. 

According to the New York Post, 57-year-old Moussa Diarra cried as he was handcuffed to his hospital bed and said, "I got bullets in me, and I’m chained to a hospital bed, but I didn’t do anything wrong."

When Diarra asked Rhodie to show him what was inside his bag, the man pulled out a gun instead. In a struggle for the weapon, Diarra was shot twice, once in the stomach and a second round grazed his ear. 

Diarra was able to gain control of the firearm and allegedly shoot the would-be thief in the chest.

Both men were charged with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a firearm. Rhodie received an additional charge for burglary. 

Diarra is a married dad of two children and a family friend said in reaction to the charges, "He's there for security. That's literally his job, to defend his business. … He takes his job seriously. … Attempted murder charge has no place there. He [robber] came to find him at his job with his gun, he [Diarra] has to defend himself."

Someone who works close to the garage said, "You are kidding. That’s an April Fool Day joke, right? How can a hardworking man get arrested for defending himself?"

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg eventually dropped the charges, reports the New York Post.

In July of 2022, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg attempted to charge a bodega clerk with Murder charges in a similar situation. Jose Alba had been working his bodega stand when a man came behind assaulting him, when Alba grabbed a knife and stabbed the man in self-defense. When The video of the assault went viral Bragg was forced to dismiss charges, but not until after Alba spent six days in Rikers.

Bragg recently indicted Donald Trump on charges that many have called a political prosecution.