The Bobster
Senior News Editor since 2004
5 arrested – including victim’s cousin – in brutal NYC laundromat murder caught on video where thieves stole $30K necklace
Five people were busted in the brutal caught-on-video killing of a Brooklyn laundromat owner during a botched robbery – and one of the accused is the victim’s cousin, cops and sources said.
nypost.com
5 arrested – including victim’s cousin – in brutal NYC laundromat murder caught on video where thieves stole $30K necklace
By
Social Links for Joe Marino and
Social Links for Steven Vago
Published March 7, 2024
Updated March 7, 2024, 4:42 p.m. ET
Five people were busted in the brutal caught-on-video killing of a Brooklyn laundromat owner during a botched robbery – and one of the accused is the victim’s cousin, cops and sources said.
The five hatched a plan to steal a gold necklace worth more than $30,000 from Money Perkins, 37, inside his East Flatbush laundromat — but the thieves shot the business owner in the head when the plan went off the rails, according to sources and police.
Perkins’ cousin Ronnie Butler, 46, was in a long-simmering feud with his cousin when he hatched the robbery plan alongside Louis Mercado, 48, who then recruited his 16-year-old gangbanger stepson and his Shoot on Sight buddies Shaleek Riddick, 19, and Diante Stinson, 20, the sources said.
A graphic video obtained by The Post shows the moment Perkins was shot dead inside the establishment at Money P Clean on Clarendon Road on Dec. 1.
3 Money Perkins’ execution was caught on graphic surveillance footage.
Perkins w
The victim lunges at one of the robbers — identified in court papers as his cousin — then drags him to the floor and struggles with him briefly as the other robbers stand by, according to the footage.
Moments later, a gunman opens the laundromat’s door and blasts Perkins in the leg as one of his attackers appears to shoot Perkins in the head, the video shows.
Butler then allegedly smashed Perkins’ head into the floor several times and ripped a chain from his neck as the others headed out the door, according to the video and allegations.
Perkins’ attackers fled with the gold necklace into a white Honda Accord, according to sources.
3 Money Perkins was allegedly shot dead over his gold chain. Facebook/Money Perkins
Sources said a witness “in fear for his life” hid in the back of the laundromat during the bloody attack.
Mercado sold the necklace after the slaying, according to court papers.
Surveillance footage helped investigators zero in on the car which was registered to Butler’s gal pal and the suspects were also spotted at a deli in Far Rockaway before the slaying, sources and court papers allege.
An Instagram post by the 16-year-old also showed him inside the sedan holding a gun and wearing the same clothes caught on the surveillance footage, according to sources.
Additional surveillance and cellphone tracking also led investigators to the accused killers, sources said.
Authorities recovered a gun inside Mercado’s closet, they added.
The four adult accused killers said nothing as they were led out of the 67th Precinct station house in cuffs Wednesday night.
3 The accused killers said nothing as they were led out of the 67th Precinct Wednesday night. Robert Mecea
They were held without bail at their Brooklyn Criminal Court arraignment on multiple charges of murder, robbery, conspiracy and criminal possession of a weapon. Mercado was also charged with act in manner injurious to child.
The alleged adult killers have a laundry list of prior arrests, some of which include assault, criminal possession of a weapon, burglary, and robbery, sources told The Post.
as cleaning the top of a washing machine when the group, wearing puffer jackets, stormed inside and drew guns on him, the video shows.