‘Grandfather of Norfolk’: 84-year-old convenience store owner killed, another injured in shooting outside business
NORFOLK — As word began to spread Thursday about the sudden and violent death of convenience store owner James R. Carter, dozens of longtime customers started making their way over to the tiny neighborhood business he ran for years on Lindenwood Avenue.
They hugged and consoled each other, and placed flowers, balloons and other memorial items in front of the store. They also traded stories about how the beloved 84-year-old man had assisted them and so many others over the years.
“He was such a nice gentleman,” said Jimmie Belcher. “He would do anything for you. I mean anything.”
Police said they were called to the Triple C Convenience store shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a shooting. Carter was found with a wound to the head and taken to a hospital, where he later died.
Another man with a life-threatening gunshot wound arrived a short time later, police said. Detectives believe he was injured in the same incident.
Norfolk police spokeswoman Noel Lipieko said a preliminary investigation indicated Carter was an innocent bystander, and that he was shot after some kind of disturbance broke out outside his store. No other information had been made available as of Thursday afternoon.
Elliott Boddie, a chef at a Virginia Beach restaurant, was among the mourners at the store. Tears streamed down Boddie’s face as he talked about how much the man he called “Pops” had meant to him.
“He was a genuine guy,” Boddie said. “He was like the godfather and the grandfather of Norfolk. Everyone loved him.”
Those struggling financially could always depend on assistance from Carter, according to several mourners who gathered Thursday.
“You could come in and say, ‘I’m a dollar short,’ and he’d say, ‘Ok, baby, it’s all right,'” said Ashley Diggs.
Eugene Hibbler remembers once when he was low on money, Carter gave him a line of credit. Isis Scott said there was a time when she had no food in her house and Carter made sure she and her children had something to eat. Belcher said that once when he ran out of gas, Carter gave him a gas can and some money to fill it up with.
Carter’s son, Dwayne Carter, 45, said Thursday he doesn’t believe the shooter intended to hurt his father. He thinks the elderly man just got caught in the crossfire.
“It’s just a tragedy,” Dwayne Carter said. “You shouldn’t live to be 84 years old and go out like that. To some senseless gun violence.”
Dwayne Carter opened the store for a short time Thursday, then decided to close it. He said it probably will remain closed a couple more days, but that he and his family will keep it going after that.
“That’s just something he would want me to do,” Dwayne Carter said.
Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or submit an anonymous tip via the P3Tips mobile app.
Staff writer Gavin Stone contributed to this story.
Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com
