$21,000 reward in 2011 killing of grocer in E. Camden

One day after announcing a $21,000 reward for the capture and conviction of three suspects who shot and killed a grocery store owner in 2011, investigators were out in full force Thursday, canvassing the East Camden neighborhood where the shooting occurred.

Members of law enforcement agencies including the Camden County Police Department, Camden County Prosecutor's Office, state police, and the FBI spent the afternoon near the 1200 block of North 27th Street, knocking on doors and passing out fliers related to the incident that advertise the award.

"This was a horrific crime," said Detective Bill Frampton of the Camden County police. "The people who are responsible for this should not be walking the streets."

About 8:30 p.m. Dec. 5, 2011, three masked men entered Bernard's Grocery Store in an attempt to rob it, said John Hunsinger, an investigator at the Prosecutor's Office. After someone in the store tried to resist, they opened fire, killing the owner, Diogenes Miguel Almonte, who was shot multiple times. Three of Almonte's friends were also shot, but survived.

Investigators would not get into specifics of the survivors' injuries, other then to say that they are still recovering.

The robbers took cash, and investigators said they believed they were carrying a military-style assault rifle and a shotgun.

Law enforcement personnel said the case was especially brutal because Almonte was "begging for his life" before he was shot to death.

"To learn the gruesome details of him pleading for his life for what essentially wound up being the contents of the register," said county Police Chief Scott Thomson, "it shocks the conscience."

Almonte was not unlike many of the city's residents, Thomson said, in that he had come to Camden from the Dominican Republic to make a better life for himself and his family.

"We had a business owner that came here for the American dream for his family, and it was turned into the American nightmare," Thomson said.

Almonte's brother Carlos, of the Dominican Republic, talked to reporters Thursday in front of the closed-down market.

"He's excited and grateful about what we're doing here today in regard to his brother and to find resolution to the matter," said Officer Nipsey Rivera of the Camden County Sheriff's Office, translating for Almonte, who does not speak English.

"How would you feel if someone took away your brother?" Rivera said Almonte asked. "For someone to recklessly take his brother's life, it's just a lot to deal with."

William Roman lives across the street from the store. He said it was reopened by a new owner for a few months, but closed after it was robbed three times.

Some neighbors said the fatal shooting was shocking, but underscores a larger problem of safety in the area.

"It was crazy because nobody expected for it to happen," said Sabrina Caban. "I don't go out late at night anymore."

Caban, 18, lives two blocks from the store and said she was recently robbed at gunpoint while walking home on 20th Street.

The $21,000 reward is being offered by the FBI and Camden County police, along with the Citizens' Crime Commission.

Anyone with information is urged to contact FBI Special Agent Jacob Archer at 856-795-9556, Camden County Prosecutor's Office Investigator John Hunsinger at 856-365-3239. or Camden County Police Detective Bill Frampton at 856-757-7042.