Chicago Business Owner Fatally Shot While Trying To Defend Himself During Robbery
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 33-year-old business owner was fatally shot in the chest while trying to defend himself during a robbery in Chicago's Park Manor neighborhood, Chicago police confirm.
Mohammed Ma'ali, from Bridgeview, was a husband and father of two young children, family members tell CBS 2.
Ma'ali, who went by Omar, worked in several stores along the street, but it was just a few months ago he realized his dream of owning is own store, friends and family say.
Four robbers entered his Park Manor convenience store and demanded the cash drawer Friday around 1:45 p.m., police said.
Ma'ali was armed and tried to defend himself.
Gunfire was exchanged, and Ma'ali was hit at close range.
His business partner described him as a kind and generous man.
"Everybody loved him. He was loved by everyone," she said.
From his barber shop next door, Ted Barnette has spent 10 years watching Ma'ali's kindness.
"Last night was hard," he said. It was hard to take in that someone would do that to him because he was such a good guy."
"We didn't think anything horrible was going to happen to him, ever," said Ma'ali's cousin, Hibba Haleem.
His family hoped he'd pull through. Now they have to explain to the young twins he leaves behind that he's not coming back.
"She'll be like, 'Wheres my dad. It's my birthday next week, and my dad's not going to be here?'" said Haleem.
It's a hard pill to swallow for those who had the chance to know him.
"If we could have him back, we'd put him right back in that store," said Barnette. "You wouldn't want to lose no guy like him. Real cool friend."
Two of the four suspects were shot in their legs.
All four ran from the scene but were arrested.
A 13-year-old and a 15-year-old have been charged with first degree murder.
Charges are still pending for the other two suspects.