Customers, businesses flood Rockford store with sympathy, support after fatal shooting

ROCKFORD — A steady flow of longtime customers offering hugs and support were on hand Friday at Pinnon Meats.

It was the first time the store had been open since Wednesday, the day one of their employees, Peggy Anderson, 63, of Rockford, was shot during a robbery in a stairway leading to an apartment above the store.

More:Police: Suspect robbed victim outside Pinnon Meats before fatal shooting

The unknown gunman is still at large.

Store co-owners Brittany Stack and Katie Bartel placed flowers at the corner of their business at Fulton and North Court Street. They described Anderson as "sweet woman" and "the smile of Pinnon's" who headed the store's bakery department.

The two also said they weren't sure what to expect when they re-opened Friday, but having known Anderson for over a decade, they were certain of two things:

"She wouldn't want us to keep closed," Stack said. "And it didn't matter if it was today or a week from now, we would still feel the same way we are feeling now."

Bartel also said there was a reason several employees congregated outside of the store Thursday even though it was closed for business.

"Everybody is family here," she said. "They had nowhere else to go."

Good people, broken hearts

Some of Friday's customers left with arms full of groceries. Some just came to express their sympathies. Most did both.

"I used to live in Rockford, but I live in Rockton now," said Martin Harvey, 84. "I'd never give up on shopping here. There isn't another meat market around like it."

Mark Engelen, 66, of Rockford, walked out toting some chicken, walleye and pork chops.

"I know the owners," he said. "They're good people."

Betty Cox, 60, of Rockford, she stops at the store daily to buy lottery tickets. She said she can empathize with the pain and grief the store owners and workers are experiencing.

"I'm going to court for the person who killed my niece," she said.

Her niece, Tammy Gonzalez, 46, of Rockford, was fatally shot during a robbery attempt on Oct. 8, 2020, in the alley in the 1300 block of 15th Avenue. Three men are being held on charges of first-degree murder.

"It's so sad," she said. "I just came to say, 'I couldn't believe it.'"

Jerry Gentz Jr. is one of hundreds of people to share sympathy and support on Facebook.

"Thinking of everybody at Pinnon's. I am in sales, and this has been my account for the last 6 years. My heart breaks for these folks. They are a very close-knit family. There isn't an employee that doesn't care and provide the best service for anybody that walks through their doors. They will grieve and as a community we should all walk in with open arms and give them hug. They all deserve it! Godspeed to Katie and Brittany, as I know Tom and Dan are grieving with them as well. To the employees, we lift our hearts up to you."

A tragic and senseless death

It wasn't just customers showing up for Pinnon's.

In the days that followed the shooting, several Rockford-area businesses and butcher shops posted messages of support and sympathy for Anderson's family and Pinnon employees on social media.

Some, such as The Olympic Tavern, offered food specials to help raise funds for the grief-stricken store.

Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara called the killing tragic and senseless.

It comes as the city's investments in law enforcement and crime prevention and intervention programs appear to be reducing the amount of violent crime in the community, McNamara said, while acknowledging that the efforts provide little consolation to Anderson's family and co-workers.

"My heart breaks to think that this incredibly innocent woman has a couple kids, has grandkids," he said, "and no matter what I do today, I am not going to be able to bring her back."

Pinnon Meats is open every day at 8 a.m. except for Sundays, when the business opens at 9 a.m.

Register Star reporter Jeff Kolkey contributed to this report.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Community rallies around Rockford store after fatal shooting