Two men arrested in brutal beating of Ray's Candy Store owner, 90 trends now
Two Manhattan men were arrested for the brutal beating and attempted robbery of the 90-year-old owner of Ray's Candy Store in the East Village.
Luis Peroza, 39, and Gerald Barth, 55, were arrested on Friday over the horrific attack that left Ray Alvarez with a black eye and eating through a straw, the New York Post reports.
Police said Peroza has been charged with assault, noting that he also faces charges for several robberies in February that included Alvarez's store on Avenue A.
Law enforcement sources told the Post that Barth, too, was arrested for other robberies in the East Village.
Police arrested Luis Peroza, 39, (left) and Gerald Barth, 55, (right) in connection to the brutal assault and attempted robbery at the famous Ray's Candy Store in the East Village
Store owner Ray Alvarez, 90, was allegedly assaulted by Peroza with a weapon described as 'a belt with a heavy rock on the end,' leaving the elderly man with a black eye (above)
The attack against Alvarez happened outside the 24-hour candy store early Tuesday morning when a balaclava-clad man entered the establishment and threatened to kill the 90-year-old.
The man left, but came back wielding 'a belt with a heavy rock on the end,' according to investigators.
A blow from the makeshift weapon reportedly left Alvarez, who had been working the overnight shift at the iconic store on Avenue A, on the ground bleeding as the suspect fled down the street.
The attack also saw another Ray's employee who had been working overnight with Alvarez hit in the chest. The pair did not require hospitalizations, and would only call cops the next day.
Police alleged that the man who attacked Alvarez was Peroza, who was caught on security cameras fleeing the scene.
NYPD officials said Peroza has 10 prior arrests going back to 2001, and he was arrested on Friday following multiple robberies in the area.
Along with robberies, Peroza has been previously arrested for assaults, criminal mischief and petit larceny.
Police sources told the Post that Barth also had prior run-ins with the law
