Harlem Bodega Owner Excenia Mette Fatally Shot in Crossfire

Excenia Mette, a pioneering Harlem bodega owner and beloved community figure, was fatally shot after rushing outside her Lenox Avenue apartment to check on her grandson during a gunfight between two men. Mette, known as 'Zeenie' or 'Zenny,' was struck in the head by a stray bullet while attempting to ensure her family's safety, despite her grandson's pleas for her to stay inside. Police say the shooting erupted from an argument between two men, both of whom brandished firearms, with at least one suspect, Darious Smith, taken into custody after being shot in the foot; the other remains at large. Mette, remembered as the founder of New York City’s first woman- and Black-owned bodega, was celebrated for her generosity and leadership within the Harlem community. The tragedy has left neighbors and city leaders mourning the loss of an innocent bystander and calling attention to ongoing issues of gun violence in the city. Vigils and tributes have highlighted her role as a trailblazer and the deep impact she had on those around her.