United Bodegas of America renews call for ‘panic buttons’ in all NYC bodegas

A New York City bodega.

United Bodegas of America is renewing its calls for panic buttons and NYPD monitoring in all bodegas after two fatal incidents last week.

Anthony Diaz, 24, was fatally stabbed and two other men were hospitalized after an incident at a bodega in Inwood, Manhattan on Wednesday evening, according to police officials. Police say another man, 38-year-old Preston White, was shot and killed inside a bodega in the Bronx’s Williamsbridge neighborhood around an hour later.

The UBA says the Inwood bodega, Ameer Deli, didn’t have a panic button, which quickly calls the police for help and could have helped the police arrive faster.

“Our stores are not safe. We’re under attack — again and again. The time for discussion is over. Every bodega must have a panic button, and the NYPD must treat these alerts like the life-or-death emergencies they are,” UBA President Radhames Rodriguez said in a statement.

This is not the first time the UBA has pushed for the installation of panic buttons in all bodegas. Last year, the organization advocated for them after a series of violent incidents at city bodegas and delis.

State lawmakers have introduced “the bodega act of 2025,” which would establish a program to provide bodegas, convenience stores and food marts with grants for panic buttons and surveillance equipment to help prevent crime. The legislation is sponsored by Assemblymember George Alvarez of the Bronx.

City councilmembers introduced a bill last year that would reimburse small businesses for the cost of purchasing and installing panic buttons in emergencies, but the bill did not make it out of committee.

Abubakr Saleh works at Prospect Deli and Grocery, a 24-hour deli in Crown Heights. He doesn’t have surveillance cameras or a panic button in his store because he feels like his neighborhood is his family and would help him in times of trouble.

But the fatal incidents made him reconsider investing in more security.

“It’s really, really upsetting. As soon as I heard about [the fatal stabbings], I thought about myself – that could have been me,” Saleh said. “I’m not looking for no problems, I’m just trying to make a dollar and have a better life.”

He said one time, a man didn’t want to pay for his pack of cigarettes, and although he said he had knives in the deli he could use, fighting him wasn’t worth it.

“I looked at him and started thinking about my kid,” Saleh said. “I just let it go, and it really hurts. But thank God I didn’t interfere with him because I would have ended up killing him, going to jail or he’d end up killing me and still be out there.”

Shawn Henry works M&F Pharmacy in Crown Heights, where he has a panic button installed. He said it’s a good thing to have, but in his experience the police take too long to arrive.

“People need to move a little quicker because you press the button, and you still gotta deal with the issue at the moment before they get here, you know?” he said.

Henry said what would really be helpful is if the NYPD had a specific unit to patrol small businesses and keep an eye on stores like his, which he said are easy targets because people know there is not a lot of surveillance. If people knew there was a police presence, he said, they would be less willing to steal or start fights at stores.

In the meantime, Saleh said he will try to avoid any problems.

“Somebody almost shot me for a cup of ice, so I told them you can have it for free,” Saleh said. “I have to let a lot of things go – that’s why I’m still here.”