Abdul Karim Alwarrak, a 47-year-old male of Middle Eastern descent, was tragically found deceased inside his store, Karim's Food Mart, located at 2053 Raleigh Road in Rocky Mount, NC, on the morning of May 19, 2011. The police were alerted to a robbery and an unresponsive man inside the store just before 1 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered Alwarrak's body and immediately treated the case as a homicide.
His body was taken to the medical examiner's office for an official cause of death determination.
The investigation revealed that Alwarrak had eight children who lived with their mother in another country. Friends mentioned that he had received pictures of his 7-month-old child from his wife the night before his death. Detectives speculated that the suspects might have been driving a green or dark-colored minivan. Despite extensive efforts, no arrests have been made, and the case remains unsolved.
Interestingly, there were similarities between Alwarrak's murder and another incident that occurred two months earlier, where 47-year-old Rafiq Salim Soufan, known as "Sammy," was found shot to death outside his store, Sammy's Food Mart, on Old Wilson Road. Although police noted the similarities, they have not found concrete evidence linking the two cases.
The Rocky Mount community was deeply affected by these tragic events, and the investigations involved intense efforts, including setting up checkpoints and stopping cars to gather information. Despite these efforts, the cases remain unsolved, and the families of the victims continue to seek justice.
If anyone has information about the murders of these convenience store owners, they are encouraged to contact the police or Crime Stoppers.
