BRIDGEPORT--An accused killer, just 18 years old, today became the second co-defendant to be arraigned for the death of a store owner in Bridgeport on April 11.
“May God grant you the same mercy that you granted my father that day,” said Salgado, who stared at suspect. Lopez never looked at him.
Salgado also told the judge that his family will be attending every court proceeding for each defendant. Both Lopez and Leighton Vanderberg, 22, are being held on $1 million bond and face felony murder charges.
Vanderberg, according to police, said Lopez was the trigger man. But Maria Salgado, the wife of the slain store owner, has identified Vanderberg as the man who shot her husband after he tried to hand the suspect cash from his pocket.
Lopez, who like Vanderberg is from New Haven, has no prior convictions as an adult. He was apprehended yesterday as he came out of a three-story apartment house at the intersection of East Avenue and Thomas Street, which is across the street from the Savin Rock Community School, which was placed in lockdown.
Jose Salgado, despite being shot in the neck, used every ounce of energy he had left to chase the suspects out of the store. He collapsed and died outside. His wife, who was being held at gunpoint, witnessed everything.
“We’re closing down the store,” said Joe Salgado. “It’s what’s best for her (his mother). It’s what’s best for the family.”
Police say Jose Salgado had asked his wife, in Portuguese, to grab the gun from under the counter just before he was shot.
“It’s difficult for her, but I think it helps almost like a therapy to come here and to be able to see it and vent, cry and go through the whole cleansing process of cleaning out the store,” said Joe Salgado.
Sapaio’s, at 351 Lexington Ave., will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. all week. They are hopeful their inventory will be sold down enough to close the store for good this weekend.
Police in both Bridgeport and New Haven are still looking into whether a car--a light green Ford Focus believed to be connected to the Bridgeport murder--is the same one New Haven police saw when reviewing surveillance video from a convenience store murder in the Elm City five days earlier.
