The devastated mother of a bodega worker accidentally killed by a city cop says the 9-mm. bullet that struck her son ripped a permanent hole in her heart.
"I feel dead," said Anna Cuevas before making the grim trip Saturday to identify her child's body at a Bronx hospital. "It's like they killed me."
Cuevas, fighting back tears, said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told her the death of 20-year-old Reynaldo Cuevas was caused by police miscues. "He told me it was the fault of the police officer," she said. "That they did everything wrong."
Kelly visited with Anna Cuevas on Friday afternoon, hours after Reynaldo was fatally shot by a uniformed cop responding to an armed robbery call at the Aneurys Deli Grocery. Police didn't respond to questions about what the two discussed.
Reynaldo and the store's night manager slipped away from the three bandits and were directly outside the front door when the errant bullet killed him. "He escapes death inside, and they killed him outside," said Anna Cuevas. "He was already on the floor. Why did they kill him?"
Officer Ramysh Bangali's service weapon accidentally went off when Reynaldo Cuevas slammed into the cop while running for his life from the masked robbers, according to Kelly.
A security video caught the collision and the two men falling to the ground, although it was unclear exactly when the fatal shot was fired. No charges were filed against Bangali; the three holdup men were accused of felony murder and other crimes.
It was the first time the seven-year NYPD veteran fired his weapon while on duty.
The suspects were all awaiting arraignment in the Bronx, where 16 family members turned out to support 17-year-old defendant Christopher Dorsey.
His uncle said the teen didn't deserve a murder rap.
"I hope he gets cleared of that, because he didn't pull no trigger," said the 54-year-old relative. "Why should he pay for someone else's mistakes?"
The store remained closed Saturday, with neighbors and friends gathered at a large memorial across from the bodega at Franklin Ave. and E. 169th St. in Morrisania.
A large "R" was drawn on the sidewalk and was surrounded by red rose petals. Photos of Cuevas, who had planned to leave the bodega for the U.S. Army, were flanked by memorial candles and messages scribbled on a large sign.
The mourners glared at police officers stationed outside the store. His uncle, who owned the business, said death was the only thing that could keep the diligent young man from his job.
"Ray was working seven days a week to send money back to the Dominican Republic for his 3-month-old daughter," said Alcibiades Cuevas.
The undeserving victim's last day of work turned out to be Friday, when he left the bodega about 1:30 a.m. — but returned to the store to grab a bar of soap.
Cuevas left the front door open behind him. The three robbers burst in to rob the place, holding Cuevas and his co-worker hostage as they stole cigarettes, lottery tickets and $718 in cash.
His uncle last saw Cuevas at 8 p.m. on Thursday. The older man was headed home, while the younger man was working the night shift.
"Ray was happy," said Alcibiades Cuevas. "He was doing his job and watching the store. Ray was a great worker."
Family members still had questions about the unarmed man's death.
"I want justice," said Anna Ceuvas. "They could have avoided the death."
mlysiak@nydailynews.com
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