An emotional balloon release was held Thursday evening for a beloved West Ridge liquor store owner just steps from where he was shot to death Monday night during an attempted robbery.
"I’m sick. I’m three days crying for him. Especially when I see his picture. I can’t. I can’t hold myself," said Emma Yweil, who was Salim Khamo's barber.
Salim Khamo arrived in Chicago from Iraq 30 years ago and was looking forward to retirement. He operated J&K Food and Liquor in the 6300 block of North Western Avenue like a family shop.
On Thursday, many of the store's regular customers and nearby residents gathered in his honor. Zehra Fazal, who also works at the salon where Khamo often showed up for a hair cut, was among the attendees.
"Kids grew up here and they're teens now. They are in shock too," Fazal said.
Wajandka Mohammed is a nearby restaurant owner and had visited the store since she was a teenager.
"I have been here for a while, so I know he’s very friendly. Always talking to my kids and a well-known guy. Very nice. Why would somebody hurt him?"
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Chicago police released images of the suspect who allegedly shot and killed the 66-year-old husband, father and grandfather of 7. Video shows the suspect riding up on a bicycle and fleeing on foot.
Jesse Torres runs the Family Dollar a block away and said he encountered the killer just minutes prior when he was locking up his store 15 minutes early that night due to slow business.
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Torres said that the man tried to open the door and was told the store was closed by Torres. After hesitating, Torres said the man left the outside of the store, where Khamo's store was likely his next destination.
The day after Khamo was killed, two more people were shot in West Ridge, near the intersection of Estes Avenue and Rockwell Avenue. The recent string of violent incidents prompted the 50th Ward Alderwoman Debra Silverstein to issue a community alert.
No one is is currently in custody and Area Three detectives are investigating the shooting.
