Another Murder in My Hometown

Around 6pm on Tuesday January 18, 2012 Miquel Torres of Newark, NJ was working at the store he owned. Forty minutes later he was pronounced dead at University hospital.  He was fatally shot at gun point. Police suspect the motive was robbery.

When I was a young girl lived not far from this crime scene. My home and grammar school were  within walking distance of Mr. Torres' store. Back then I would walk up the block with my friends through this neighborhood on my way to the park not worried about bullets flying or store owners dying. The streets were safer back in the day. Violence wasn't part of the neighborhood's fabric like it is now. It felt comfy, strong and reliable. Now its dangerous, weak and difficult to trust.

Many years later Dad continues to live in my childhood home. While driving there today,  I stopped at a traffic light by the corner store where Mr. Torres probably worked hard to sustain his business. I sat at the red light and noticed the all too familiar yellow crime scene tape, the police patrol car and a TV news crew. The light turned green and I pulled off  past the store where I noticed a man speaking to a woman. They both looked sad. But the woman's face grimaced with sorrow and despair. Maybe she knew Mr. Torres. Maybe she lived in this gun ridden and violent part of town. Whoever she was she felt the tragedy of this loss of life. Last summer this same intersection was riddled with bullets that claimed one life from a drive by shooting.

Police say whoever shot Miquel Torres didn't get much for their desperate act. Apparently business was very slow. The lottery machine was broken and he wasn't accepting food stamps. So chances are there wasn't a large amount cash on hand. Maybe he gave the assailant the few dollars he had in his pocket.  Maybe the shooter was pissed off  because there he was he standing on the edge of destruction about to throw his life away trying to play gangsta for nothing but chump change.

The murderer got away. Police are looking for two suspects. The investigation is on going. The authorities have released photos of the predators taken from the surveillance camera. Dad and I talked about today's shooting that took place down the hill not far from house. It's like living in a war zone surrounded by heavy artillery.  I kissed Dad goodbye and he said, "Don't drive back that way." I didn't. I took another street. Along the way at a major intersection stood a big digital law enforcement sign. You couldn't miss it. In flashing red letters it pleaded:

REWARD FOR INFORMATION. YOUR HELP NEEDED.  JNC MINI MARKET STORE OWNER MURDER. 

Just this week there have been seven shootings in Newark, NJ. According to published reports, Miquel Torres leaves behind a wife, a 6 year old son and two teenage step children. The 37 year old store owner is Newark's third homicide this year.

Someone said to me this weekend that Newark is really coming around. There are great plans for Newark. In the downtown area the infrastructure is getting stronger.  Well good for downtown! But what about around town where people live, own businesses and try to raise families like Miquel Torres?

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/newark_police_seek_two_suspect.html