HUMBOLDT PARK — Halloween masked-offenders robbed a Humboldt Park convenience store at gunpoint Saturday night before setting fire to the shop while employees were still inside, according to police and the store's owner.
The robbery and arson was the latest of a string of crimes and threats made against Amigo Grocery Store, 3358 W. LeMoyne St., according to the owner Abdulsalam Alawi.
Alawi's 16-year-old son and his brother were both working Saturday night when the three masked robbers came into the store about 8:27 p.m., according to Alawi and police.
All three men were armed with handguns, according to Alawi. One of the men was wearing a gorilla mask, while another won wore a clown or lion mask, police told the Tribune.
One of the suspects held the 16-year-old to the floor with a gun pressed to his body near to the entrance while a second suspect held a gun to Alawi's 46-year-old brother's head, Alawi said.
The 16-year-old pleaded with the men not to shoot his uncle, who does not speak English.
"He said, 'Give me all the money m----- f-----'," Alawi said.
The interior of the store severely damaged in the fire. [DNAinfo/Paul Biasco]
Alawi said his teenaged son was terrified.
"[My son] was scared for his uncle. He could have been gone," he said.
One of the suspects struck Alawi's brother, 46, possibly with the gun, and took approximately $800 in cash, according to Alawi.
As the offenders left, they threw a bag they had brought into the shop with them, which the 16-year-old noticed was on fire, he said.
Both employees were able to escape the blaze before the store erupted in flames.
The owner's brother was taken to an area hospital by ambulance, but was back home Monday and on pain medications for his rib injury, according to Alawi.
A woman who lived in an apartment above the shop also escaped unharmed.
Children peer into the burned shop on their way home from school Monday afternoon. [DNAinfo/Paul Biasco]
Detectives are investigating the robbery and the Chicago Police Department's arson unit is involved, according to officer Ana Pacheco, a police spokeswoman.
Pacheco confirmed the offenders were seen throwing an object back into the store, which may have started the fire.
No description of the offenders or any further information was available from police.
Sonia Felix, a former employee of the store who lives on the same block, said the shop is constantly robbed and its employees are intimidated by customers.
About two months ago, a woman came into the store and stole two ice cream cones, according to Felix.
She then tried to get change for a $50 bill and the employee behind the register charged her for the cones.
The woman was outraged that the employee charged her.
"She said 'I'm going to send someone to burn your store down,'" Felix said.
Felix, 48, was providing Alawi support outside the shop Monday afternoon as insurance investigators inspected what was left of the interior of the store.
"I was just hoping nothing happened to his son, the 16-year-old," she said. "They are good people."
The shop owner said he is unsure about the future of the business.
Alawi said a police officer at the scene Saturday night told him he's been to the shop too many times to help him.
"I need my safety," Alawi said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
