George Elijah Jr, Daniel Lopez Death – Floral arrangements and lit candles adorned the entrance of the grocery store, serving as a somber tribute to the tragic events that unfolded on Tuesday night. In an unfortunate outburst of violence, three individuals lost their lives at Tienda Los Hermanos, a small grocery store located on the south side of Montgomery. This incident occurred amidst a series of robberies specifically targeting Latino-owned businesses in Alabama’s capital city. The shooting took place just hours after Mayor Steven Reed passionately appealed to city council members to support a $6 million proposal for a community intervention program aimed at addressing the rising crime rates in Montgomery.
During a news conference held on Wednesday, Mayor Reed expressed his dismay, stating, “People who are diligently working to sustain their livelihoods within their own communities should not fall victim to such heinous acts. Unfortunately, that is precisely what occurred last night.” He further emphasized the city’s commitment to utilizing all available resources to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for this crime, as well as those who have been systematically targeting Latino and Hispanic businesses throughout the community.
According to Police Maj. Saba Coleman, officers promptly responded to reports of gunfire shortly before 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Tragically, two individuals were found deceased at the scene, while a third man was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. Acting Montgomery Police Chief John Hall identified the victims as George Elijah Jr., aged 50, Daniel Lopez, aged 20, and Romero Lopez, aged 43. Mayor Reed revealed that two of the victims were family members, while the third individual had simply visited the store to engage in some shopping and spend time with the store employees.
Chief Hall stated that the police are currently investigating any potential connections between this shooting and previous crimes targeting Latino-owned businesses. Maribel Lopez, who identified herself as one of the store’s owners, spoke to WSFA and shared her grief, revealing that her brother and nephew were among the deceased. Overwhelmed by the tragedy, she expressed, “I can’t process anything right now.” Lopez also disclosed that the store had been subjected to robbery or burglary on at least six occasions in the past.
In light of these distressing events, Lopez urged the community to unite and raise their voices, emphasizing the need for everyone to come forward and make their concerns known to the city. She stressed the importance of taking care of one another and capturing the attention of local authorities to address the pressing issues at hand.
As the community mourned the loss of three lives, bouquets of flowers and