A masked maniac hurled a Molotov cocktail into a Bronx deli Tuesday — leaving a worker with burns so severe his skin was “peeling off,” cops and a relative said.
The arsonist or arsonists tossed the flaming device into the small storefront shop on West 183rd Street near Jerome Avenue in Fordham Heights around 10:10 p.m. – leaving the 33-year-old worker with severe burns to his face and body, authorities and law enforcement sources said.
Surveillance footage obtained by The Post, taken from a distance, shows the moment the shop lights up with flames, with at least one shadowy figure standing in the doorway.
The male suspect – who sources believe may be an acquaintance of the victim – fled on foot and was still on the loose late Wednesday, cops said.
A man who identified himself as Mizzy, the victim’s cousin, said a whole crew of juvenile suspects were behind the attack.
“Look, long story short, some young, young kids, went in – dressed up, skied up, came and threw Molotov cocktails,” Mizzy said. “That’s some old school s–t to do, but they did that, and that’s what set everything on fire here.”
“I was right here with my friends in front of this shop, last night when it happened,” he recalled. “I’ve seen from the moment the cocktail hit the floor and blew up to when they brought my cousin out the store.
“His skin was peeling off, literally,” the cousin added. “He was on fire, physically on fire. They had to throw a blanket on him to put him out.”
The victim was taken to Jacobi Medical Center, where he is listed in serious but stable condition, according to fire officials.
The blaze sparked a two-alarm response and took about an hour to extinguish, the FDNY said.
Mizzy called the arson “outrageous” and “unexpected,” adding that his cousin is well-known in the area.
“He’s been here with the community [for a] very long time,” Mizzy said. “Everybody has a lot of love for him. Like, he was famous. Like, he is family.”
He added that he suspected his cousin was not the target of the fiery attack.
A surrounding bakery, fashion shop and laundromat were also affected by the blaze.
“We gotta wait for the insurance company,” said laundromat owner and manager Cheo Basquez. “Assess, rebuild…they gotta fix the roof and everything. We don’t know…how many months it could take.”
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