Rabel Ramos-Gomez, Newark supermarket owner, shot dead by stray bullet

NEWARK, N.J. -- A community is mourning the loss of a beloved grocery store owner, who was shot and killed while at work.

Police say he was hit by a stray bullet on Sunday afternoon.

CBS2's Kevin Rincon has more on how he's being remembered.

In the very back of R&A Supermarket in Newark, Rabel Ramos-Gomez was cooking for customers like he normally would when, out of nowhere, he was shot.

"We heard the shooting. We all ducked. When we got up, we thought we were being robbed," Marisol Mendez said.

Mendez was inside at the time. She said she didn't see anything because it happened so fast.

"We didn't know where it came from. We never saw it," Mendez said. "We heard the boom, boom, boom, one after the other, like a machine gun."

Ramos-Gomez died inside his own store.

Police are now reviewing surveillance video from several cameras along South 10th Street and 13th Avenue. Candles were left out in front by neighbors as a way for them to grieve.

They say the 46-year-old was good to them.

Rafelina Garcia lives above the supermarket and has a business next door. She'd go in there often with her two kids. She said it's hard knowing he's gone.

Wiping away tears, she said she's concerned.

"I have my business here. I'm worried," Garcia said.

Her 11-year-old son recalled a kind man, who was generous with his time.

"I remember playing a little bit of basketball with him. That was fun," Ghosmal Vasquez said. "He fed everyone on the block, did all kinds of block parties, took care of all his family. Just amazing. A wonderful man. This was an unjust killing."

Ramos-Gomez is survived by his wife and kids. Those who knew him are demanding justice, something the Essex County Prosecutors' Office is now working to deliver.