In Montgomery, Alabama, Latino business owners and residents have been raising concerns about a pattern of violence targeting their community. Nelson Narváez Estrada, the owner of the La Moraleja ice cream shop, revealed that his store had been robbed three times by armed men this year.
Christina Morales, a journalist, visited Montgomery to speak with Latino business owners, community activists, and residents in Spanish. On June 4, tragedy struck when Billy Daniel López García, along with his father and a family friend, were fatally shot at their family grocery store, Tienda Los Hermanos. The store, which sold products from their native Guatemala, fell victim to a violent robbery just minutes before closing time.
The string of violent incidents in the area had left the community deeply unsettled. From a restaurant worker being shot in the hip to armed men terrorizing customers at other Latino-owned businesses, the atmosphere in Montgomery was tense. López García had just purchased a promise ring for his girlfriend and had plans to propose after her birthday, but his dreams were cut short by the deadly robbery at his family’s store.
His girlfriend, Michelle Nambo Beltran, expressed her sorrow, stating that the United States had proven to be a dangerous place for them. Despite López García’s aspirations, moving to the U.S. ultimately resulted in a tragic loss of life for him.
The series of violent crimes targeting Latino-owned businesses in Alabama’s capital have raised concerns about the safety and security of the community. As investigations continue and the perpetrators are sought, the residents of Montgomery are left mourning the loss of lives and calling for action to address the violence that has plagued their neighborhoods.
