Man charged with murder of Feltonville shopkeeper

Merchants and neighbors in Philadelphia's Feltonville section, where a beloved store owner was fatally shot and his wife critically wounded, expressed relief today that a suspect had been arrested.

Thomas Foggy, 19, of the 4700 block of Fourth Street, about two blocks from the crime scene, was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, robbery and related offenses, police said.

Lt. Frank Vanore said police were looking into whether another person would face charges. Surveillance video at several area businesses showed two men thought to be the gunmen, police said.

Amissi Ndikumasabo, 41, died last Tuesday afternoon after he was shot in the head during a robbery inside his Urban Wear clothing store on Wyoming Avenue.

His wife, Bintou Soumare, 45, who suffered a bullet wound to her left temple, remained in critical condition at Temple University Hospital, police said. The couple has two children.

As crews worked today to clean up Ndikumasabo's store , neighbors said they were heartened to learn that an arrest had been made.

Leo DeLorba, owner of El Placer Restaurant across Wyoming Avenue from Ndikumasabo's store, said of the arrest, "That's a good thing. Ndikumasabo and Soumare were "good people" who often came to eat at his restaurant, he said.

DeLorba said that crime appeared to be on the rise in the neighborhood, noting that one of his restaurant workers was robbed of groceries and cash recently as he walked home.

At Milan's Restaurant, also across from the Urban Wear store, a waitress who identified herself only as Sylvia welcomed the news of an arrest.

"That's good. I'm glad," Sylvia said.

She said Ndikumasabo, a native of Mali who often sent money to relatives in his homeland, would come to the restaurant daily.

"He used to come here every day and order two Hawaiian Punches, one for himself, one for his wife," Sylvia said.

She said the attack on Ndikumasabo and his wife had cast fear throughout the community.

"We're scared to be here," she said. "Anything could happen."