MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Three people were killed in a shooting at Tienda Los Hermanos, a grocery store in Montgomery, Alabama, on Tuesday night. The incident adds to a disturbing pattern of robberies specifically targeting Latino-owned businesses in the city.
Mayor Steven Reed had recently urged city council members to support a $6 million proposal for a community intervention program aimed at addressing the rising crime rate in Montgomery. However, the shooting took place just hours after his plea.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Mayor Reed expressed his outrage and stated that the city would utilize all available resources to find the culprits. He also mentioned the ongoing targeting of Latino and Hispanic businesses in the community.
According to Police Maj. Saba Coleman, officers responded to gunfire reports around 9 p.m. Two individuals were found dead at the scene, while a third was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital.
The victims were identified as George Elijah Jr., 50, Daniel Lopez, 20, and Romero Lopez, 43. Mayor Reed revealed that two of the victims were family members, while the third was a customer who had stopped by to shop and chat with store employees.
Authorities are investigating possible links between this shooting and a series of previous crimes targeting businesses owned by the Latino community in the area. Maribel Lopez, who claimed to be a co-owner of the grocery store, mentioned that the store had been targeted in at least six previous robberies or burglaries.
During the news conference, a representative from a Spanish-language radio station raised concerns about slow or non-responsive police actions when called upon by the Latino community. Acting Montgomery Police Chief John Hall assured attendees that the city is working to improve response times and investigate any reports of ignored calls.
Authorities are fully committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring the safety of businesses and residents in Montgomery.