GLENWOOD, Ill. – A community is mourning the sudden death of a beloved liquor store owner, gunned down in his own store.
Flowers and candles now lie at the foot of the Emporium liquor store, which Naveen Singh, 52, has owned for more than a decade.
“It seems almost inconceivable at this point, looking at it, you can tell something is seriously wrong,” said Camille Reynolds, a neighbor who has lived in the neighborhood for four decades.
His reaction was far from the only one at the scene Tuesday afternoon, nearly 24 hours after Singh’s death.
“I didn’t really realize it until I got here today and saw the flowers and the candles,” Reynolds added.
Glenwood police said a person of interest was in custody Tuesday afternoon.
Police said the shooting happened at 6:45 p.m. Monday night at the business at 339 E. Glenwood Lansing Rd. Police said the shooting stemmed from an argument between Singh and a customer, who fled after the shooting.
Neighboring businesses told NBC Chicago they are considering taking steps to increase security. A father and son fear a shooting like this could have happened three doors down from their restaurant.
“You’re trying to make an honest living and people take your life for nothing. I hate what happened to this man and his family. We need to do things differently, I pray for these kids, that’s the way it is,” said Willie Green, father of a local shopkeeper.
The village of Glenwood also reacted to this senseless act of violence, reflecting on Singh’s life and the value he had within his community.
“Naveen Singh was a kind man who ran his Emporium Liquor Store responsibly and always with a smile,” said Mayor Ronald J. Gardiner.
A memorial vigil is now planned for Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. in front of the liquor store to pay tribute to a life that meant so much to so many.
