Two brothers were stabbed, one fatally, by a fish market employee in Harlem after one of the men allegedly tried to steal some shrimp, police said.

Authorities said the incident began Tuesday night when Malik Burrell went to the Fish Express Fish Market in Harlem and tried to steal several shrimp.

An employee, identified as 34-year-old Aquino Hernandez Jr., spotted the alleged theft and chased Burrell out of the store, police said.

However, officials said Burrell returned later that night with his 29-year-old brother, Robert Burrell Jr., and the two allegedly began the throw stools at the counter.

Authorities said the incident escalated when Hernandez pulled out a knife and attacked the two brothers.

The brothers were taken to a nearby hospital, when Malik was pronounced dead early Wednesday morning, on what would have been his 25th birthday.

What You Need To Know

  • Police say Malik Burrell went to the Fish Express Fish Market in Harlem Tuesday night and tried to steal shrimp but an employee stopped him

  • Malik allegedly came back later that night with his brother, Robert, and threw stools at the counter

  • Police say Aquino Hernandez Jr. stabbed both men, killing Malik and injuring Robert

“I’m grieving right now. I’m hurt, I’m crushed, I’m devastated. I can’t believe it. It’s like it’s unreal,” said the men’s father, Robert Burrell Sr.

“Whatever the altercation was about I don’t know but I know that man came from behind that counter and attacked them and he stabbed one of my sons to death,” he added.

Robert Jr. was treated at a local hospital and is expected to survive.

Their father told NY1 there is no pain like losing a child.

“They’re grown men but I still treat them like my babies because they are my babies. Look their blood on the floor. I can’t,” he said.

Robert Sr. said neither of his sons were thieves, nor do they have criminal records.

“This is murder. This not no defense, this is none of that. They didn’t have weapons on them. Not one weapon,” he said.

Robert Sr. said he will remember Malik as a kind and gentle person who was an important member of this community.

“Malik had a beautiful smile. He was always smiling. Very courteous. If you were to meet him, you would’ve loved him. He had a beautiful smile. He knows how to brighten a person’s day up with a smile,” he said.

Police were initially investigating whether Hernandez acted in self-defense but he has since been charged with murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.