On Thursday night in the East Village, candles flickered where a light in the community had been snuffed.

“He wasn’t just a deli worker; he was family to everybody,” Ciara Lugo said.

What You Need To Know

Abdul Saleh, 28, was shot and killed over the weekend near Avenue B and 13th Street, steps away from the bodega where he worked, according to authorities

Police said it started as a verbal dispute, spilling out onto the street and ending in gunfire

“He wanted to bring his family to the U.S.,” Amr Abozaid, with the Yemeni American Merchants Association, said

“He was always caring, nice, friendly,” Broderick Cruz said.

That’s how the block knew Abdul Saleh, not by his job, but by who he was.

The 28-year-old was shot and killed over the weekend near Avenue B and 13th Street, steps away from the bodega where he worked, according to authorities. Police said it started as a verbal dispute, spilling out onto the street and ending in gunfire.

“He wanted to bring his family to the U.S.,” Amr Abozaid, with the Yemeni American Merchants Association, said.

That day, Saleh had been with them in his home country of Yemen, where loved ones said he visited his wife and children.

“We are looking for justice. That’s the main thing,” Abozaid said.

The deli was closed as candles, flowers and messages covered the sidewalk.

Earlier, Mayor Zohran Mandani joined mourners for Saleh’s funeral at a mosque in Sunset Park, as other elected leaders joined community members for the vigil.

“Tonight, we light a candle in the darkness. But at the same time, as we celebrate his life, we all have a responsibility to address gun violence because we’ve been here before,” New York State Attorney General Letitia James said.

Police have arrested 28-year-old Kavone Horton in connection with Saleh’s slaying.

“Violence is down. That means nothing to the family of the victim here,” community advocate K Bain said.

“His family, they’re traumatized. They just lost an important member of their family. They’re still in shock,” Abozaid said.

Meanwhile, Horton is expected to return to appear in court Friday morning.