Neighbors are remembering fondly a Near North Side store owner who was fatally shot inside his Cabrini Green store Saturday night.
Bassam Naoum, 59, was shot six times at 8:52 p.m. inside store in the 900 block of North Orleans Street, police said.
Naoum, also known as "Ollie" by many, was beloved by neighbors for his generosity. “He was a good man, he was good to this whole community. For years, everybody loved him,” said friend Steve Mitchell to NBC Chicago.
Naoum was shot inside the Munchies Market, 950 N. Orleans St., but police said it did not appear to have been a robbery because of “certain items” he had on him, as well as the fact that there was money in the register.
Despite the fact that both of his stores were located in a violent neighborhood, his wife says he didn't want to abandon the Cabrini-Green community. According to the Chicago Sun-times, he survived at least four robberies, and break-ins.
Police said no one other than the gunman and victim were inside the store at the time, and no other injuries were reported.
A description of the gunman was not immediately available, and nobody is in custody as of Monday morning, police said.
Belmont Area detectives are investigating.
Family and friends are planning to hold a vigil in his honor Monday night.
