CUSTOMERS TO THE RESCUE
WNY man chargedin store clerk attack

Wednesday, December 31, 2008
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

After a West New York man attacked a clerk in a 99-cent store off Jersey City's McGinley Square and threatened to shoot him, customers jumped on the man and held him until police arrived, officials said.

Leon Taylor, 49, of 59th Street, was arrested at the store Monday at about 2:25 p.m. and charged with aggravated assault and making terroristic threats, reports said.

Police responding to the store found the man being held by several customers and the 26-year-old clerk, who said the man began screaming and threatening him, saying, "I'm gonna shoot you," reports said.

Taylor began searching his waistband as if looking for a weapon, but then grabbed the clerk, pulled him over the counter, knocked him down and began beating him, reports said.

That's when customers in the store tackled Taylor and held him down for police, reports said.

The victim suffered bruises and cuts to his neck, but he refused medical attention, reports said. Taylor was not armed, police said.