NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 73-year-old Queens man was convicted Thursday of shooting the owner of a deli in the chest in 2021, the Queens District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
James Fraley shot Rufino Rojas-Flores, the owner of Rojas Deli in Briarwood during a robbery on Aug. 12, 2021.
He reportedly ordered a sandwich before shooting the man in the chest and then demanding money from his daughter, who was working behind the counter.
The victim’s daughter handed over between $100 and $200 in cash from the register before Fraley fled.
Rojas-Flores survived the shooting.
He was arrested during a traffic stop on Aug. 17, and officers later found two pistols and a safe containing more than 12 ounces of heroin in it alongside glassine envelopes commonly used for packaging drugs.
Fraley was on lifetime parole for a 1989 murder conviction at the time of his arrest.
“He killed once before and was armed and willing to do so again,” said Queens DA Melinda Katz. “The jury has spoken and we will be asking the court for an appropriately lengthy sentence.”
Fraley was convicted of attempted murder, assault, robbery, weapons possession and drug possession.
He faces up to 55 years in prison when he’s sentenced on June 16.
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