Deli robbery ends in murder

GARFIELD, N.J. The shooting happened shortly after 3:30 p.m. at Billy's Deli, a convenience store on MacArthur Avenue.

The victim was identified Ahmed Alsurakhi, 30.

He recently started running one of his family's delis and was about to start a new chapter in his life. He was engaged to be married next month.

Ahmed's family has owned Billy's Deli for three years.

Neighbors said they often help customers who came up short on cash, telling them "pay me next time."

Nick Alsurakhi says his brother was the quiet one of the family and had a kind and giving soul.

Family members say the he was alone in the store at the time of the robbery. His father had left about two hours before the shooting. When he came back he found police at the store and learned his son had been murdered.

"His father collapsed. Police had to pick him up by his two arms," Joanne Berloco said. "I wanted to go out and comfort him. But it was a bad moment. He was crying hysterically."

Investigators were still working to come up with witnesses and suspects.

"This isn't the first time. This store is a very easy target," Melissa Giltner said. "People been shot in that store couple times."

The store has been robbed several times in the last five years. The shooting is also the second at the store. A gunman wounded the former owner of the deli, then known as the Rise and Shine Food Mart in 2005.

The Alsurakhis started operating the deli after the last shooting.


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