Britt Prawat

Rafael was convinced that this guy must have been the one who pulled the trigger. But when police contacted Leo about the night Javid was shot, he had a rock solid alibi. And when word got out that Javid wasn't robbed, the talk around town started shifting toward another possibility. Was this a hate crime?

Rafael was convinced that this guy must have been the one who pulled the trigger. But when police contacted Leo about the night Javid was shot, he had a rock solid alibi. And when word got out that Javid wasn't robbed, the talk around town started shifting toward another possibility. Was this a hate crime?

Javid and his family were Muslim, and at the time, police were seeing a trend across Connecticut. Muslim store owners were being robbed, sometimes violently. Chief Carl said he remembered at least one store robbery in Connecticut that turned deadly for a Muslim store owner.

Javid and his family were Muslim, and at the time, police were seeing a trend across Connecticut. Muslim store owners were being robbed, sometimes violently. Chief Carl said he remembered at least one store robbery in Connecticut that turned deadly for a Muslim store owner.

Javid and his family were Muslim, and at the time, police were seeing a trend across Connecticut. Muslim store owners were being robbed, sometimes violently. Chief Carl said he remembered at least one store robbery in Connecticut that turned deadly for a Muslim store owner.

So in the wake of Javid's shooting, many people spoke out about their fear that the crimes against Muslim store owners were hate crimes. But without knowing who killed Javid, police couldn't determine what the motive was. And as two, then three days ticked by, Javid lay unconscious in the hospital. His family prayed he'd pull through, but day by day, his recovery seemed less and less likely.

So in the wake of Javid's shooting, many people spoke out about their fear that the crimes against Muslim store owners were hate crimes. But without knowing who killed Javid, police couldn't determine what the motive was. And as two, then three days ticked by, Javid lay unconscious in the hospital. His family prayed he'd pull through, but day by day, his recovery seemed less and less likely.

So in the wake of Javid's shooting, many people spoke out about their fear that the crimes against Muslim store owners were hate crimes. But without knowing who killed Javid, police couldn't determine what the motive was. And as two, then three days ticked by, Javid lay unconscious in the hospital. His family prayed he'd pull through, but day by day, his recovery seemed less and less likely.

And despite his family trying to stay by his side every possible second, they still had a business to run. The store was their livelihood. So just a few days after the shooting, Javid's brother Muhammad reopened. But rather than handing out products to customers who kept the store so busy, he found himself on the receiving end.

And despite his family trying to stay by his side every possible second, they still had a business to run. The store was their livelihood. So just a few days after the shooting, Javid's brother Muhammad reopened. But rather than handing out products to customers who kept the store so busy, he found himself on the receiving end.

And despite his family trying to stay by his side every possible second, they still had a business to run. The store was their livelihood. So just a few days after the shooting, Javid's brother Muhammad reopened. But rather than handing out products to customers who kept the store so busy, he found himself on the receiving end.

A steady tide of customers came to the shop offering him flowers and cards, lighting candles and leaving gifts and teddy bears outside.

A steady tide of customers came to the shop offering him flowers and cards, lighting candles and leaving gifts and teddy bears outside.

A steady tide of customers came to the shop offering him flowers and cards, lighting candles and leaving gifts and teddy bears outside.

Community members held fundraisers for the family like bake sales and car washes and gathered one night for a crowded candlelight vigil where they shared stories of just how kind Jeffy had been to them over the years and reminded his wife and kids how much their neighborhood cared about him.

Community members held fundraisers for the family like bake sales and car washes and gathered one night for a crowded candlelight vigil where they shared stories of just how kind Jeffy had been to them over the years and reminded his wife and kids how much their neighborhood cared about him.

Community members held fundraisers for the family like bake sales and car washes and gathered one night for a crowded candlelight vigil where they shared stories of just how kind Jeffy had been to them over the years and reminded his wife and kids how much their neighborhood cared about him.

It was cold comfort for his family, though, especially his wife, Rafia, who was distraught with grief and guilt. See, on any other night, Rafia would probably have been at work with her husband. She often joined him at the store to help out, but she'd stayed home that night because she wasn't feeling well.

It was cold comfort for his family, though, especially his wife, Rafia, who was distraught with grief and guilt. See, on any other night, Rafia would probably have been at work with her husband. She often joined him at the store to help out, but she'd stayed home that night because she wasn't feeling well.

It was cold comfort for his family, though, especially his wife, Rafia, who was distraught with grief and guilt. See, on any other night, Rafia would probably have been at work with her husband. She often joined him at the store to help out, but she'd stayed home that night because she wasn't feeling well.