Crime

Clerk at Valley Stream store shot dead, cops say

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A clerk at AL Mini Mart in Valley Stream was shot and killed on Dec. 16, police said.

Edwin Lopez, 36, of Oceanside, was found with a gunshot wound at the convenience store, at 91 Ocean Ave. in Valley Stream, at about 10:40 p.m., police said.

He was rushed to nearby Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital, but was pronounced dead at 11:31 p.m. At press time, police were searching for the shooter, and the investigation was ongoing.

Neighbors and friends of the Lopez family left flowers, candles and handwritten signs in front of the store on Monday.

“God bless you, Edwin.”

“Lloramos por tu pérdida.”

“Your community prays and cries over you. God bless.”

A regular shopper named Mary, who declined to give her last name, said she often saw Lopez working the counter when she stopped in to buy milk, as recently as a few days before the shooting.

“I didn’t know it would be the last time,” she said of when she saw him a few days earlier.

In addition to flowers, candles and messages of support from the community, a cardboard sign on the front of the store said, “Store closed until further notice.”

Calls placed to Lopez’s brother, Alquimeda Lopez, who reportedly owns the store, were not returned before the Herald went to press on Tuesday.

A woman who worked part time at the store, but declined to give her name, said that Lopez’s mother was due to arrive from the Dominican Republic in the next few days to mourn the loss of her son.

Fifth Squad detectives ask anyone with information about this homicide to call (800) 244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.