Cops Have Few Leads In Murder of Kensington Convenience Store Clerk
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police are hoping someone steps forward with information about a Monday evening shooting death in the West Kensington section of the city (see previous story). The woman behind the counter of a corner store was "targeted and executed," according to police.
Homicide captain James Clark says a Hispanic man in a grey hoodie and black ski mask said nothing, ignored two other employees inside the Caribe Mini Market in the 3300 block of Mutter Street at Westmoreland, and shot the clerk. The victim, identified by family members as 28-year-old Renya Aguirre-Alonso, was killed.
"He just opens the door that leads to the cash register where she's at, and just starts firing," Clark told reporters today.
(Tawa:) "Those two other employees were within a few feet of her?"
(Clark:) "They were. When he walked in they were right there. But he went directly to his target, the decedent, and just executed her."
Investigators also say robbery does not appear to have been the motive, because nothing was taken.
Clark acknowledges the victim was "known to keep drug dealers off the corner," but police won't say publicly if there's a connection.
Another neighbor speculated that the dead woman may have been a witness to a previous murder.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334.
