‘He didn’t deserve this’: Community mourns beloved Kansas City store owner
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A south metro neighborhood is mourning the loss of a well-known convenience store owner.
Zulfiqar Ladhani, 64, known as Joe, was shot and killed outside of his store, Joe’s Liquor & Convenience Store, Monday night.
According to the Kansas City Police Department, he was found in the parking lot in front of the store which is located in the 8000 block of Hickman Mills Drive. KD is still investigating what led up to shots being fired. No one is in custody.
Curtis Taylor, Joe’s customer and friend, was the first person to come by and lay flowers down by the storefront door.
“I had to come and put flowers down for my guy; Joe was my guy,” Taylor said. “I just feel void; I feel like I’m numb. We talked, we laughed. I would go in there and get something and just end up hanging in there with him.”
Taylor said that Joe was a pillar in their community, everyone knew who Joe was and respected him.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” Taylor said. “Joe never did anything to anybody. He’s been there for everybody.”
READ MORE: Kansas City police investigate pair of homicides in separate areas
Throughout the afternoon, as people learned about his death or stopped by and instead saw the broken glass and bullet holes, they would pay their respects.
“He would let you owe him; he didn’t care about the money; it was the relationship he had with the people,” said one woman. “He’s never had anything happen over here and to happen to him. I hope whoever did this gets caught; that man didn’t deserve that.”
Unfortunately, Joe wasn’t the only one killed on Monday. Police are investigating two other murders across town. So far this year, 21 people have been killed. At this time last year, there were seven deaths.
“We need to tighten this up because this is unacceptable,” Taylor said. “We have to tighten our grip. Our police force, I love them, but they have one hell of a job. They have a hell of a job and it’s going to take all of us.”
In the meantime, Taylor and everyone else want to see justice for Joe.
“So, whoever this was, we have to get them KD,” Taylor said. “We have to get them.”
If you have any information, please call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
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