’My whole family is depending on me’: Boston store owners say they’re working in fear

BOSTON — A recent streak of violence has left Boston convenience store owners shaken. They say they’re terrified to know the suspect is still at large.

Local convenience store owners are begging the public, and police for help. It’s going on in the second week, and there is still no arrest in the Shawmut Avenue clerk shooting.

Owners are terrified, saying will we be next?

“My whole family is depending on me,” said Abdul Matin, the store owner of M&R convenience store.

Matin was there the night his store clerk got shot. Matin says, right now, he doesn’t have a choice, but to stay open day after day. His family is scared something will happen to him.

“I don’t have a way to close the store because I have to survive, I have to pay the bills,” said Matin.

On the night of July 14, his clerk, 25-year-old Tanjim Siam was shot execution-style during a robbery. He has two bullets lodged in his head and is on life support. Surgeons are afraid to operate because Siam might not make it.

“After this heartbreaking incident, I’m suffering of insecurity,” said Matin.

Siam came here all by himself from his native Bangladesh just four months ago, to go to college. Boston 25 New Reporter Malini Basu spoke to Siam’s mother in the Bengali language.

“Right before this happened, he called me 2-3 hours before I spoke to him. Mom, if you were here, we would be doing so much together. Don’t worry, we won’t live this poor forever,” said Monowara Begum Moni, Siam’s mother.

She said Siam is their everything. He works so hard and sends us money back so we could have a better life.

“All people love my son, all the people in our village love him,” said Moni.

“We ask the Boston Police release this video, we need to see who the person are,” said Humayun Morshed, the Secretary of Boston Convenience store owners association.

Morphed says they need more police presence, and they need to release the video so they can see who the suspect is.

“Some of them not evil, robbers or thieves, why would you shoot someone once you got the money, and the cigarettes, leave,” said Abdullah Faaruuq, who is in charge of the Masjid Lil Hamduliliah Mosque.

Many store owners are now closing up before it gets dark.

On Friday afternoon, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Ed Markey’s office got back to reporter Malini Basu. They say, they will work on helping Siam’s mom, if they can with the Visa process.

Siam told Basu, please, if there is one wish now, I want to see my son for the last time. Friends have set up a GoFundMe account, and they are hoping it will help pay for medical expenses.

If you would like to help the family, click here.

Cox Media Group