A drug middleman shot and maimed two buyers after the victims burned his supplier on a $12,000 weed deal in Harlem, police sources told The Post.
Suspected triggerman Jonathon Suero, 21, was ordered by an East Harlem drug lord to “get his money back” or “do what you do” to Arnold, Cobo, 21, and Jorge Briu, 31, sources said.
Cobo and Briu allegedly worked for a West Harlem narcotics peddler looking to rip off four pounds of pot from his crosstown rival, sources said.
The duo handed the East Harlem dealer’s associates four $100 bills wrapped around one dollar bills and slips of paper instead of the agreed upon $12,000 amount, sources said.
The associates then turned over several large sacks of marijuana, and started walking away when they noticed that they’d been had while counting out the cash, sources said.
They quickly reported back to the East Harlem dealer, who summoned Suero and ordered him to “make this right” because he had introduced them, sources said.
“The dealer didn’t leave Suero with much of a choice,” said one law enforcement source. “It was either kill them or get the money.”
Suero convinced Cobo and Briu to meet for a chat on Riverside Drive and West 136 Street on the evening of June 19, sources said.
When the pair pulled up in a car, Suero jumped in the backseat and they began talking, sources said.
Suddenly, Suero pulled a 9MM semiautomatic and fired two bullets into the back of Cobo’s head, blowing away a portion of his brain, sources said.
He then turned the gun on Briu and shot him in the neck, sources said, adding that he might be a paraplegic.
Suero jumped out of the car and disappeared inside Riverside Park.
Detectives from the 30 Squad interviewed witnesses and gathered other information that led to the arrest of Suero on July 15.
Suero was charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. He is expected to appear August 19 for arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Both victims are expected to survive.