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Read the press release here.

Owner Fatally Shot in His Bushwick Bodega, NYPD Says

By  Ben Fractenberg Gustavo Solis and Aidan Gardiner | April 17, 2014 12:18pm | Updated on April 18, 2014 8:18am

Suspect in Bushwick Bodega Murder
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NYPD

BUSHWICK — A Yemeni immigrant who worked long hours to support his 13 children was shot and killed inside a bodega he co-owned just after opening up shop early Thursday morning, police and friends said.

Swadh Maged, 52, was inside 427 Central Ave., at the corner of Madison Street, about 6:50 a.m. when a gunman came in with a firearm in a plastic bag and shot him in the chest and left arm before fleeing in a waiting van, according to the NYPD and a woman who works at a hair salon next door.

Maged was taken to Kings County Hospital and pronounced dead, police said.

It was not clear what sparked the shooting, but an NYPD spokesman said preliminarily that nothing appeared to have been taken.

 A co-owner of the bodega at 427 Central Ave. was shot and killed there Thursday, neighbors said.
A co-owner of the bodega at 427 Central Ave. was shot and killed there Thursday, neighbors said.
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DNAinfo/Ben Fractenberg

No arrests had been made as of Friday morning, police said.

Police released a photo of the getaway van Thursday night along with surveillance footage showing the shooter, clad what appeared to be a yellow and black motorcycle jacket, walk into the bodega and raise his weapon.

Maged worked grueling 18-hour overnight shifts nearly ever day of the week to support his 13 children in Yemen, friend and countryman Sahmi Thabet, 25, said.

"Everybody loved him in the neighborhood. Everybody called him 'pops' out of respect," Thabet said. "It's shocking."

During the overnight shift, Maged locked the front door and conducted business through a portal at the side window, friends said. He had opened the door for about 50 minutes Thursday morning when the gunman shot him.

Thabet said he last saw Maged Wednesday at 8 p.m. and the two agreed to share a meal together.

"He used to always cook for us," his friend said.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).