People remember Tacoma store owner fatally shot during robbery as kind and selfless
The killing of a Tacoma small business owner has shaken a community.
A 60-year-old store owner was shot in Tuesday afternoon in the 3500 block of South Ainsworth. He was the owner of The Little Store, which lies on the corner of a residential neighborhood. The man was killed by a person trying to rob his store, said Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Shelbie Boyd.
A woman named Jennifer who lives one house down from the store told The News Tribune on Wednesday her husband called 911 after the shooting. She said a relative of the store owner ran outside and frantically asked for help in calling the police. He said someone had been shot.
The woman, who asked that her last name not be used, said when she went to light a candle Wednesday morning in the victim’s honor, his wife and daughter were there, kneeling.
“Seeing them in such sorrow and pain, it hurt,” she said.
A man named Nick who has lived in the neighborhood for over a year told The News Tribune he would see the store owner every day. When he got a call about the incident on Tuesday, he drove by and could see fire trucks. He saw his friend who was shopping inside the store when the shooting happened pacing up and down with blood on his shirt.
“He literally watched it happen and did CPR [on the store owner],” said the man, who also asked that his last name not be used. “He comes here every day to shop like me.”
Jennifer said the victim took pride in the store. He would help keep the neighborhood clean by picking up garbage outside the store. The woman has chickens and would give some of their eggs to the victim’s family. She noticed they would then share resources they had as a thank you.
“I just feel really broken-hearted for the family and hope there can be some peace for them and resolve,” she said tearfully, looking on to the store just a few yards away from her home.
Jennifer said the incident has been traumatizing and disrupts the safety of the community. She said this is a wake-up call for how people treat each other and look out for one another.
Nick said when there were no customers, the store owner would put his airpods in and take a walk around the block using the same route to get his steps in.
He said that the victim never had a bad word to say about anything or anyone. He was positive and respected by the customers who came in the store.
“The store isn’t going to be the same without (him) here anymore,” said a woman who was standing outside the shop Wednesday with other people as they reminisced about the owner.
Boyd said there have been no updates on the suspect. She said it is an active homicide investigation.
Anyone in the neighborhood who has video surveillance from about 1 p.m. Tuesday should submit it to tpcrimestoppers.com.
