The search continues for those responsible in the shooting deaths of three people – including a father and son – at a Hispanic grocery store in Montgomery.
Central Alabama Crime Stoppers said the reward for information leading to an arrest in the case now stands at $40,000, which includes $10,000 from Mayor Steven Reed.
Police and fire medics responded to the Tienda Los Hermanos grocery store in the 4100 block of Troy Highway around 8:55 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, on a call of people shot.
Officers found three victims -- George Elijah Jr., 50; Daniel Lopez, 20; and Romero Lopez 43 -- shot at the store. The Lopezes were father and son.
Elijah and Daniel Lopez were pronounced dead at the scene.
Romero Lopez was taken to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Mayor Steven Reed and Acting Police Chief John Hall held a press conference the following day addressing the horrific crime.
“Last night was a terrible situation. It was tragic, it was something that cannot be excused, nor should it be,” Reed said. “People working their jobs in their community … should not be preyed upon, should not be targeted. And that’s what we had last night.”
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Reed said robbers believe Hispanic-owned businesses like Tienda Los Hermanos, the one robbed on that Tuesday night, make good targets because of the likelihood they carry a larger amount of cash than other stores, along with the belief that they are less likely to cooperate with authorities.
“There are people who believe that those who may not speak English as a first language are easy targets, and that’s the most sickening part of this,” he said.
Police are working on identifying suspects in the robbery and others targeting the Hispanic community, Hall previously said.
The FBI has also been contacted, Hall said, and federal charges will be pursued because commerce was interfered with, and federal charges carry more severe penalties.
Montgomery City Council members, Oronde Mitchell, Charles Jinright, Glenn Pruitt, Andrew J. Szymanski, and Julie Beard have contributed $5,000 each. Reed is contributing $10,000 and Central Alabama Crime Stoppers is offering $5,000.
Additionally, Lamar Advertising has donated advertising space to promote awareness in this ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867), 1-833-AL1-STOP (251-7867) or via the agency’s P3-tips app.