ASTORIA, Queens (WABC) — ‘Top in Town Wireless’ in Astoria was a disaster Friday night with phone cases scattered on the floor and shelves knocked over. Shell casings from the bullets that hit the owner were also found.

The owner’s brother stood behind the police tape, wishing this had been a normal Friday night.

“We were supposed to have dinner together, and I was like, ‘What time are you picking me up from home?’ and he said, ‘I just got shot, can you come up here?’ Gurpreet Singh said.

Gurpreet runs to the store, where he watches the aftermath of his brother’s fight with two armed robbers. Police say they wanted his watch, but Kunwarjee Singh wouldn’t give up his Rolex without a fight.

“I’m pretty sure he’s a tough man himself. He could have given them a fight because I know my brother; he doesn’t give in to robbers that easily,” Gurpreet said.

The result is not easy at all. Police say the thieves eventually stole the watch and shot the 40-year-old business owner shortly before 7 p.m. Friday. His brother says he was shot three times in the abdomen and legs.

The cell phone store on Steinway Street was robbed a few years ago, another business owner recalls.

“We talked about how to protect our businesses and he had a really good lock; the door was locked; they came with an electric wire cutter; it was a serious production when he was robbed last time,” Miguel Ángel Pinto said.

However, he was never violent until now.

No one is more worried than Gurpreet: it is impossible for him to feel safe.

“I’m very confused about all of this. I have no words, but crime is going up. In fact, we close at 7, 7:15 these days. We even close our doors everywhere because we don’t know what’s going to happen.” they come at night,” says Gurpreet.

The two armed robbers fled and the victim had to undergo surgery to remove the bullets that were in his body. He is currently in stable condition in the hospital.

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